RED ROCK—The Township of Red Rock held their council meeting, April 18, 2022. Chaired by Mayor Darquise Robinson, the meeting highlighted several key items on the agenda.
The meeting began with Councillor’s acknowledging Fire Chief Ryan Petrie successfully attaining ENTCA compliance. Petrie shared with Council that he received a letter, from the Office of the Fire Marshall, indicating that Red Rock Volunteer Fire Department, achieved compliance under these requirements. Council members expressed appreciation of Petrie’s hard work to ensure that the community’s Fire Services was in compliance.
Red Rock’s Community Development Officer, Ashley Davis, highlighted the work which is scheduled to begin soon on the rehabilitation of water and sewage for the community. She indicated this work would begin end of May 2022 early June. “Realignment will take place on May 30, 2022 to June 13, 2022,” said Davis.
Brompton will be working on this project from the end of May until October 2022, when it is believed that this project should be completed. Davis informed council that by that time, “roads will be paved and ready to go.” Affected residents in the area where the water and sewage work, is being done will receive notices to inform them about the schedule for interruption of services.
The report from Davis, updated council on the RV parking campground Strategic Planning Project. Council heard that this solicited a lot of community involvement which resulted in, "77 surveys being completed, 67 in-person focus group interviews, 25 online interviews and 37 working groups," said Davis. This community involvement helped to wrap up the SPP for Red Rock.
A huge item on the agenda that evening was their Superior Picnic Project in partnership with Superior Country and Lake Superior Northshore Tourism. Council learned that this project held its first pilot program last year and set up the groundwork for what would be in place for visitors choosing picnic spots this year.
It was learned that eight communities from the region are involved in this project, each contributing $300 towards the purchase of picnic tables. Red Lake would also have its own designated table, as each of the eight participating communities will see a “Picnic Project “plaque on their respective picnic tables.
Finally, the meeting discussed the announcement in April 2022, by the Ontario Government of their decision to move ahead with twinning Highway 11/17 between Thunder Bay and Nipigon. Teranorth Construction and Engineering, is said to begin twinning the highway in the Fall of 2022, with the expected completion date by 2026.
The project involves widening Highway 11/17 from two lanes to four between Thunder Bay and Nipigon, including the construction of two new bridges over Pearl River. It is estimated that this will create hundreds of jobs in the north and improve road safety.
