Thunder Bay City Council Debated and Deferred
THUNDER BAY – After two long hours of discussion, Thunder Bay City Council decided to defer the issue of water distribution to City Administration for a report. Council and Administration are heading into budget deliberations over the coming weeks. The City will face a number of possible challenges to keep taxes low, and continue on several of the projects that the city is working on.
The water delivery service which has gone on without issue for the past quarter century. City Administration is moving to recommend that the program be dismantled over potential liability issues. The Province of Ontario has new rules over water distribution and liability following the Walkerton water crisis.
Thunder Bay City Council also heard from the Youth Services Advisory Board on plans for youth centres in Thunder Bay. A proposal for a partnership with the Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre is being examined. The next steps will happen in January. The City of Thunder Bay has partnered with Wasaya Group Inc. and Youth Centres Thunder Bay in a pilot project youth centre in the Chapple Building in Victoriaville.
That pilot project has seen hundreds of youth engaged in programs delivered by a number of partners. Everest College comes into Youth TBay and has run homework programs and taught cooking skills. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit has helped make the youth aware of health concerns and assisted in education. As well there have been a solid relationship and the rules put in for the base planning of Youth Centres in Thunder Bay as a result of the program.
Funding for the pilot project is set to run out by April 1st 2014.
Thunder Bay Council is heading into planning sessions for the budget. Over the coming weeks, Council is likely to be busy figuring out how to keep taxes down, and services up.
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