A large agenda for city councillors in Dryden tonight, which includes gold mining and nuclear waste work in the area, as well as new housing units for Dryden and the potential sale of vacant properties.

Tonight’s Council meeting will begin with a presentation on the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s work to find a site to store Canada’s used nuclear waste from Northwatch – an environmental protection agency group from the region.

Jeremy Wyeth of Treasury Metals is then expected to make a presentation on a Pre-Feasibility Study for the Goliath Gold Complex, which is being planned for the Wabigoon area about 20 km east of Dryden.

As it stands, mining on the three gold deposits between Wabigoon and Sioux Lookout is expected to begin by 2025. It’s estimated to produce over 1 million ounces of gold over a 13-year lifespan.

Council will also discuss their support for local business owner Jamie Gould, who is attempting to build new housing units on Edgewater Drive but may need to conduct an Environmental Assessment due to wetlands in the vicinity – which may be protected by the province.

The potential sale of a number of vacant lots on Swanson Street will also be discussed, as well as an application for funding to host the annual Dryden Fall Festival.

Around the table, Chief Administrative Officer Roger Nesbitt will present the city’s 2022 Annual Report, council will discuss supporting the Town of Essex for municipal taxation changes and will discuss councillor Bryan Tardiff’s Notice of Motions presented earlier this month.

After a Community Fire Risk assessment conducted by the Loomex Group in March, Councillor Tardiff is proposing investigating the feasibility of a firefighter training, development and certification facility in the community, and getting accredited under the Superior Tanker Shuttle Services program – which should help lower municipal insurance rates.

Finally, residents will be reminded to remove worn, broken and out-of-season decorations from the Dryden cemetery no later than May 1, after which time they will be removed and disposed of.

Tonight’s Council meeting kicks off at 7 p.m. at City Hall. You can watch it live HERE.