Four members of Kenora City Council and a staff member are in Toronto this week for the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference.

Mayor Andrew Poirier, councilor’s Bob Bernie, Barb Manson and Kelsie Van Belleghem along with the city’s CAO Kyle Attanasio are attending the three day municipal convention.

Poirier they have a meeting set up with the Solicitor General and will trying to find a way to keep police costs down.

“We are going to talk about some opportunities that we’ve started discussing about how we bring these Calls for Service down,” said Poirier prior to leaving for the ROMA conference.

“Because ultimately if we bring our Calls for Service down permanently that will have a permanent savings in our police costs.”

Poirier adds that they have a specific ask for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing that comes from the city’s Human Resources department.

“Making some adjustments for us looking at hiring certain individuals from other province’s.  So in this case, were having a very hard time (hiring) a chief building official.   That’s one of the impediments there, so we’re going to bring that up and have a discussion about that.”

Poirier says they also have a meeting scheduled with the Minister of Long Term Care and Housing to discuss including the Unincorporated area of the Kenora District in a funding arrangement for the Kenora District Homes for the Aged.

Currently the Unincorporated areas don’t pay anything.