Council Condensed

North Bay city council has approved, in principal, a $150,000 contribution to an unnamed "dream team" that wants to run Jack Pine Hill.

Council approved the contribution at Monday night's meeting after hearing a presentation from Marc Charron, chairman of the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority.

Charron said the team has the business and mechanical expertise necessary to run the hill. The $150,000 would be part of a total of around $600,000 the team would need to get the hill up and running for the coming ski season.

Other money would be sought through corporate contributions and through a season tickets push, Charron said.

He added the authority will be "getting out" of the ski hill business and that the team was "the best hope" to keep the facility going.

Charron said the team will be identified within a few weeks once it has finalized its plans. He added any of the $150,000 that isn't used will be put into a reserve fund for the ski hill.

Mayor Vic Fedeli said council's contribution will hinge, in part, on the recommendations of city adminstrator David Linkie, who will be writing a report on the matter.

Deputy mayor and budget chief Peter Chirico said the $150,000 is the same amount the city had previously been contributing to the authority for the ski hill.

More on this story later this morning on BayToday.ca
___________________________________________________________

The North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority has sold its 10 per cent interest in the upper chalet at Vincent Massey Public School to the Near North District School Board for $285,000.

Council approved the sale at its meeting Monday night and will receive $58,000 from the proceeds, the same amount it forwarded to the authority to participate in the Discovery Routes trail system.

Mayor Vic Fedeli said the money will go into a reserve fund.
___________________________________________________________

The city will likely end up in a break-even position at the end of the year, chief financial officer Brian Rogers projects.

Finances will be helped by an expected $250,000 in operating fund GST rebates, and a $78,000 transfer from the Workplace Safety Insurance Board reserve fund.

More on this story later this morning on BayToday.ca.
___________________________________________________________

The city will buy six new transit buses over the next three years for $2.7 million.

New Flyer Industries has been awarded the contract, which is contingent on the city receiving provincial subsidies for purchasing the vehicles.

An application has already been made to the Ontario Transportation Ministry for the subsidy.

If the deal goes ahead one bus will be delivered this year, three next year and two in 2006.
___________________________________________________________

The fine for illegally parking in a handicap spot will increase from $100 to $300.

North Bay city council approved the increase at its meeting Monday night.