THUNDER BAY -- The city will donate $5,000 to Dryden to assist with that city's flood relief.
More than 150 Dryden homes were flooded earlier this month when a 90-minute downpour dumped nearly 150 millimetres of rain on the community 350 kilometres west of Thunder Bay.
Dryden lended its support during Thunder Bay's 2012 flood and Coun. Andrew Foulds framed helping Dryden in kind as neighbourly.
"When we were at our lowest, the City of Dryden came through. They came through with financial support," Foulds said.
"The City of Dryden has had some challenges in the last number of years but they recognize our situation and they came through with dollars. I believe we need to do the same. Northern communities need to stick together and neighbours do look out for neighbours."
Coun. Rebecca Johnson voted against donating to Fort McMurray following devastating Alberta forest fires this spring and she wasn't prepared to commit $5,000 for Dryden either.
Johnson proposed an amendment to decrease the donation to $2,000 but no councillor seconded it and the $5,000 value was passed.
"I look at our stabilization reserve fund and since the start of this year, we've gone through four-million-plus dollars. We only have a contributed balance of just over $7 million. We keep eating away at this fund all the time and I have great concerns about that," Johnson said.
"I fully understand Dryden's situation in Dryden and I certanily feel we can assist them but I will not support $5,000."
