City will consider fundraising foundation (Council wrap)

At the urging of Ward 1 Councillors Jamie Caicco and David Orazietti, the City of Sault Ste. Marie is investigating the possibility of establishing a City foundation for fund-raising purposes.

If established, the new foundation would allow both individuals and community groups to receive tax receipts for donated funds.

Council voted last night to establish a committee headed by Orazietti to evaluate the idea.

In other news, the Social Services Solution Council has unanimously agreed to ask the City to establish an ad-hoc committee to review the way funds from the Sault Ste. Marie Charity Casino are distributed.

Mayor Rowswell indicated last night that he'll be asking the provincial Attorney General to raise the City's percentage of slot revenues.

And in a development that's better late than never, Council learned that the Ontario Ministry of Health is finally starting work on a local charity casino impact study, a project that was supposed to have happened two years ago.

Other developments

- Algoma Steel has been granted special permission to use a pellet gun to exterminate pigeons in its Number Two Basic Oxygen Steel Process (BOSP) shop. Background.

- What used to be the old Algoma Hotel at Queen and Bruce Streets will be demolished over the next month or so. Background.

- Council approved prosecution of Ken Pierman for what planning staff say are illegal uses of his property at 1032 Great Northern Road for metal salvage and tire recycling. Background.