Blind River Mayor Sally Hagman hosted her first community information forum Tuesday to give residents information on how various town services operate. There were two separate meetings, one Tuesday afternoon and a second in the evening with both lasting about two hours each.
Tuesday afternoon’s public forum, covered by ElliotLakeToday, attracted about 50 people with the evening forum expected to attract a larger, after work crowd.
Both meetings had speakers talking about topics ranging from tax assessments, to work done by the local building department, the operation of the North Shore Power Group, the town’s strategic plan and work being done by the town’s recreation and facilities services.
Speakers included, MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) representative Jeremy Cormier who gave residents an overview of how the provincial agency functions in doing property tax assessment, Blind River’s John Jones, manager of building, planning and bylaws who talked about his department’s role in issuing building permits, North Shore Power Group CEO Graeme Lowry and board chairman Chris Astles, general manager of Cameco, Jovette Morin and Marla Tremblay of bakertilley which prepared the strategic plan recently approved by council, and Karen Bittner, the town’s recreation and facilities services manager.
It was a speaker lineup that was worked out by Mayor Hagman and town staff to give residents a public forum for information about the various services and allow residents to question individual speakers after the presentations related to questions they had.
MPAC’s Cormier told those attending about how the agency gathers assessment information in a four-year cycle of assessments.
“The majority of what we’re assessing is residential, he told those attending the afternoon session. “If you’re looking at your assessment and feel there is something wrong you should definitely call us.”
He also outlined procedures residents have in appealing assessments they feel are unfair. MPAC also does assessments on commercial, industrial and agricultural properties.
Jones gave information on the work done by the building department, focusing on the building permit process, governed by provincial and municipal laws and bylaws. He urged anyone considering building of new building or house and adding a building to an existing property to contact the town building department. Information can also be obtained by going online to the town’s website.
Jones said building permits are required for new construction, renovations, demolitions and add-ons as well as switching a building’s current use to another use as is in the case of a residential property being changed to commercial use.
“I cannot stress how important it is for you to consult with the building department,” Jones said of any plans requiring a permit.
The operation of NSPG and its handling of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation $49.5 million loan several years ago to the town was also outlined by NSPG CEO Lowry was also presented at the public information forum.
Lowry said the municipally-owned utility has seen significant growth in the past two years, allowing it to put money aside in a fund to meet what is known as a balloon payment that will see the town pay the remainder of the CMHC loan set at $23.5 million and due in 2037. The current annual payments have been met by annual payments from Plastco which NSPG assisted financially to get it out of credit protection. The amount paid by Platsco last year was $781,815.
“This payment brings our cumulative interest income, since Plastco regained solvency in 2015, to approximately $2.58 million,” he said. “This income will augment our ability to contribute to our balloon reserve fund, established in cooperation with the town of Blind River in June 2018, for the purpose of building an asset to offset our 2037 final payment to the town so that it might make its final payment to CMHC.”
Lowry said it is cautiously predicted that with payments and money placed in the fund, the town will realize a profit by 2037 from a project that has caused considerable concern among residents.
Lowry said residents who want more information on the NSPG operation can go to the company website.
Astles said the Cameco uranium processing plant in Blind River produces some 15 percent of uranium fuel needed for nuclear plants in the world. He is also confident NSPG will continue to grow.
Consultants Morin and Tremblay outlined the work in putting together a strategic plan for Blind River. The findings of the plan, approved by council recently, was put together through an online survey that garnered 400 respondents, public meetings, and input from a committee from various aspects of the community, including business.
Tremblay said the plan also outlines specific procedures to obtain the goals in the plan. She and Tremblay said the plan found tourism as a specific area that should be improved particularly with the town’s location between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Maria and the recreation facilities already in place in Blind River.
She said public input also found concerns over vacant buildings in the business core and difficulties for businesses to set up shop in Blind River.
Morin said the next step in the process will be for town officials and volunteers to develop an action plan to deal with issues raised in the plan.
Recreation manager Karen Bittner said the town has already been moving ahead with plans to improve recreational facilities throughout Blind River The improvements include work done at the arena and marina and town parks to make facilities more accessible and enjoyable for the public. So far, according to her, marina and arena improvements have resulted in more revenue generated at the facilities over the past two years.
“I believe…every child has a right to play,” she said. “I’m asking everyone to get involved,” she said of ongoing work to improve community recreation.
Resident Lorraine Liss, a Blind River resident for 25 years, said the information meeting was good.
“I’m really excited about the future of Blind River,” she said following the meeting. “We have a financially secure future and everyone seems to be excited.”
She said she is waiting to see how the strategic plan will be carried out.
“It sounds like they’re really going to implement those plans.”
Sue Ashtown, a 30-year resident of the town, said the presentation was “awesome.”
“Everybody needs to come out and hear what’s being done,” she said.
Jeff Mason, of Algoma Mills, was interested in hearing the report on NSPG and its payment schedule of the CMHC loan.
He said it is good “to see we have a network,” to improve the community. “Small improvements can make a difference.”
Resident Guy Chenard, a Francophone resident who has raised a family in the 45 years he has lived in Blind River, said the work outlined in the reports will require some work by residents. He will contribute to that work through his affiliation with his church and clubs he supports.
“It’s a great town to live in and being bilingual that was important us,” he said. “It’s a great environment in town.”
Mayor Hagman said she expects council will be working on the strategic plan through the year. She is planning another public information meeting in early July.