Capital/Housing ProgrammingApril 8, 2013

Staff

Water ProgrammingOne of our programs major concern was the loss of our major computers (Programming Logic Controls) due to age. The equipment was replaced in November 2012.

In addition we were looking to install a sixth well which was put on hold due to funding shortage and will have to be review in the upcoming future.

Additional pieces of our equipment were replace such as the ozonation equipment and the slow sand filtration.

The system were also treated with the flushing of the lines.

We had two boil water advisory which was handle by our staff with the cooperation of our community membership.

Things to do

Monitoring of the T test programming that will review the current hardness program.

Roads and Culverts

There is a need to address the upgrades of the road system from the south side of the community to the water plant and to look at ways to repair the various aspects of the asphalt roadway.

A funding proposal was put forward and was supported by AANDC but later withdrawal due to lack of federal revenue with no commitment to support this need in the near future.

The Capital department will continue to look for alternative source of funding.

Capital BuildingsCouncil has supported a review of existing school structure and has engaged Neegan Burnside to do an internal assessment of our building. The following was found:• the unit is unsafe and is not

within the building code • the land the units occupies is

smaller than the present code recommends

• it is difficult to continue renovating the unit as the problematic areas are located in the basement

A new educational centre is planned and as of today, we are currently waiting for a response from AANDC to move the feasibility study further to design type and size of the centre.As of today, we have completed an internal examination of our need and that particular report has been forward to AANDC including our proposal.

Fire ProtectionOur present program is under the hands of Chief Stanley Nabigon with Robert Starr as the Deputy Chief

There is twelve members that are in their volunteer program and still looking for more members to become involved

This past summer they hosted a Provincial Training whereby communities including First Nation participating in this training exercise

HousingThe housing program is still reviewing alternative ways to operate their program as requested by Council.

Programs such as “Housing As A Business”, reviewing our lands ensuring that all properties are properly surveyed, examine the implementation of Certificate of Possession are some of the areas our programs are reviewing.

Our program hosted our first Housing Fair which was done this past March with a large turnout.

We have developed an alternative model of providing housing service such as the Pic River Non Profit Housing Authority Corporation.

Housing Surveys & Lot DevelopmentOver the past year, I received funding from the AANDC to engage J. D. Barnes and have work with Bill Parsons to do the following:

Gather all AANDC survey documents and began the review of where our existing housing structures are located and to identify those lots that are not properly surveyed

Prepare a proposal to request funding to completed the survey needed for the balance of the community

I am currently working with the Ontario Tech unit out of Thunder Bay to look at future expansion of the community which will entail a lot for our new educational centre

Pic River Non Profit Housing Authority Corporation

For the past two years, the Housing Committee has been reviewing options that can be introduce to our members to manage our own housing program. The Housing Department is currently working with Four Winds Group of Companies, Tom Laronde and Little Thunder Consulting, Karen Bird as our main consultants.

To prepare with the acceptance of our new model, we requested participants from our membership in a creation of a logo for the corporation and out of seven entries, one was chosen to suit our needs.

At this point final product is under review by management and will be introduce to Council by the end of May 2013 for their consideration and approval.

An introduction is set for June 5, 2013 for our membership.

Home Maintenance ProgrammingThe Housing Program is creating a final version of a Housing Capacity document that will be introduce to the Housing Committee and community members.

Over the past year, the Housing Program has been submitting their application to the First Nation Housing Market Fund to consider Pic River as a potential client. This will allow our housing program to utilized their capacity funding to assist in providing home maintenance training directly to our membership.

Items such a basic home maintenance, proper replacement of furnace filters, regular caulking of exterior windows and doors are included in the plan along with others.

Housing Arrears Policy DevelopmentOne of our biggest concerns within our housing program is the need to examine and gain support from our membership to ensure payments are made on time and on a regular basis.

One of the supporting documents we are now reviewing and adopting is Arrears Management process supported by Council direction which was passed on March 21, 2007 and was distributed to our membership.

To ensure that we have the support of our membership in terms of the needed direction to take, a meeting will be called in June to gain their input and support prior to adopting such a procedure.

Housing Policy

The current housing policy is under review and being considered for amendment. This exercise is expected to be completed by the end of June 2013.

The housing program realize the importance of getting this document completed and approved as this will be key document for the upcoming authority structure.

Thank youFor further updates on housing, please check your mail for our recent newsletter entitled “Housing Fair Success .”

Our next housing session is scheduled to go forth on June 5, 2013.

For those members who want to take part in our housing policy amendment session, please call and leave your name with our office and a schedule will be provided to you.

And remember for those members who wish to take part in our Housing Committee, please forward your names to our office by the end of August 2013.