The latest drool from the Jr. Hounds (Council preview)

Here's our look ahead at some of the issues to be discussed at Monday's meeting of Sault Ste. Marie City Council.

In addtion to our 'stoop and scoop' tracking of the Junior Greyhounds, we'll tell you about Mayor Rowswell's trip next week to an EDS meeting in Toronto, the return of Stud Boy (no, we're not talking about Derik Brandt!), as well as other important stuff that every SooToday reader needs to know.

********************************************************************* The latest drool from the Junior Hounds

The Sault Junior Greyhounds are planning to pay off half their $41,598 debt to the City by the end of this year.

Under an agreement to be submitted to City Council for approval on Monday, the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League team will pay off the remainder of its ice-time debt by August 31 of next year.

Formerly known as the Soo Thunderbirds, the Junior Hounds are on a 14-game winning streak and currently lead the NOJHL with 21 wins and three losses.

As SooToday's Randy Russon reported on Thursday, Hounds winger Jeff Rainville, the NOJHL's leading scorer, has signed to play next season with Lake Superior State University Lakers. In April, Council rejected an offer from Sam Biasucci to pay off the club's debt (then just $34,000) by donating to the City the fitness equipment they've accumulated at the John Rhodes Community Centre. Background.

Highlights of the new agreement

- The Junior Greyhounds will be allowed to continue using ice surfaces at John Rhodes Community Centre for practices and at Memorial Gardens for home games.

- They'll pay the normal hourly primetime rate charged by the City for "organized hockey," plus staffing costs.

- Practice time will be provided free for the first $35,000 of gate receipts. For the next $5,000 in receipts, 10 percent will be payable to the City. For the $5,000 after that, the rate will be 15 percent. A 20 percent charge will be placed on all receipts over $45,000.

- Starting immediately, the Junior Hounds must pay $1,000 at the beginning of each month toward the cost of game ice time and staffing needs including security and cashiers.

- To pay off its $41,598 outstanding account, the club must sell unspecified assets valued at $20,000 to $23,000 by December 31 and forward the cash to the City. The remainder of the debt must be paid before the contract expires on August 31, 2003.

- The club must give the City 13.5 percent of any money it raises from rink-board advertising.

Nick Apostle, the City's commissioner of community services, says the agreement is similar to those struck by other cities with NOJHL teams.

Return of Stud Boy

The Stud Boy World Cup Snowcross Race is returning to Searchmont Ski Resort next weekend.

The Canadian Snowcross Racing Association is asking the Sault Ste. Marie Emergency Medical Services to provide a standby ambulance for the event.

City Council will be asked to approve this service at a cost to the sponsor of $2,920, payable in advance.

Jet-set Johnny, tightwad Turco

Mayor Rowswell wants Council to send him to Toronto for an Electronic Data Sytems Corp. meeting this Wednesday. EDS officially opened its GM Roadside Assistance Centre at 475 Pim Street in late April. At that time, 240 people worked there, with projections their numbers would eventually swell to 275. Estimated cost for the mayor's one-day excursion to the Big Smoke = $1,000.

Ward 4 Councillor Lou Turco is asking Council to cover his expenses when he travels to Toronto on December 12 and 13 for a board meeting of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. Estimated cost of Turco's two-day excursion to the Big Smoke = $300.

Job creation, Italian-style

Monday is show-and-tell day for John Febbraro of the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corp.

Febbraro travelled to Italy this month as part of an "exploratory" mission to Italy to explore the possibilities of a larger trade mission. His report to Council is one of the first items of the agenda. Background.

Province chips in $25,000 for Winter Cities Forum

Wayne Wetlaufer, parliamentary assistant to Tourism and Recreation Minister Frank Klees, was in town this week to present Mayor Rowswell with $25,000 toward the cost of hosting the 2003 Winter Cities Forum.

The money will be used for equipment and supplies, facilities rental, and the cost of bringing invited speakers to the Sault.

The international forum runs January 31 to February 3. To view the official SooToday 'Grip-and-Grin' photo of the cheque presentation, please click here.