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Blind River to foot bill for wind turbine removal

Motion passed in a 5-2 vote Monday evening
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Blind River council has agreed to pay for the cost of dismantling the marina wind turbine.

The issue of whether the town or its municipally-owned utility, North Shore Power Group (NSPG) – which had the turbine dismantled at a cost of $5,028 and then billed the town for the work – was resolved in a 5-2 vote at Monday evening’s council meeting for the town to pay it.

“I was opposed to paying this just because normally we would have the company come to us to ask for permission and for funding, and it wasn’t done properly so whether you guys (council) want to pay this or not is up to you. I will ask for a recorded vote on this one,” Councillor HP Roy stated.

Coun. Jim Dunbar said he previously opposed the town paying the bill, but would now support it because the motion came in two parts with one requiring the NSPG to seek council approval for any work over $1,000.

Coun. Steven Wells suggested the motion should be divided to allow council to vote separately on the bill payment and on the requirement for council approval on any work over $1,000.

Mayor Sally Hagman said a decision on the bill payment was needed. The mayor represents the town on the NSPG board along with councillors Paula Summers and Clifford Spratt. They represent a majority on the board.

She said the fact that the work was undertaken without council approval represented a “miscommunication” between the town and NSPG.

“The question is does council approve that this invoice be paid by the town of Blind River?”

“This has been a long to-do,” Coun. Spratt said, referring to the bill coming first to council in December. “I think North Shore Power has learned a lesson out of this.”

“We recognize now that in order to have anything over $1,000 spent on those turbines we need to have council approval,” Spratt added.

“Having three representatives on the board, I don’t think history will be repeating itself,” Mayor Hagman said.

Councillors Roy and Wells voted against having the board pay the bill, while the remaining five council members voted for. On the separate motion for council approval of work being done by the NSPG, full council voted in favour.

In a related matter, clerk administrator Kathryn Scott will prepare a report on the NSPG, including when it was established and its mandate for council.



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About the Author: Kris Svela

Kris Svela has worked in community newspapers for the past 36 years covering politics, human interest, courts, municipal councils, and the wide range of other topics of community interest
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