Town has approved a lease agreement, but building needs many repairs and upgrades
Fort Frances residents could soon have a canteen at Point Park, following a request submitted by local resident Tasha Wagner to operate it starting Sept. 6, 2022.
Although council approved a report from the Operations and Facilities division to enter into a lease agreement with Wagner to lease the building, the location needs new windows.
Travis Rob, Operations and Facilities manager, said in a report to council the office building has been vacant for a number of years. The building was also vandalized in 2019.
“The building overall is in pretty good shape,” Rob said. “But at this point it has no windows and it has only one door. We would have to replace the windows so it aesthetically looks more inviting.”
Rob said Wagner would provide internal furnishings as needed to support her operations.
Council then also approved administration to obtain estimates for the replacement of the windows and a timeline to do so. This information will then be brought back to the Operations and Facilities Executive Committee to approve the unbudgeted capital expense.
Rob said in order for Wagner to operate the building, the town would have to replace five windows and one door, as well as make some other minor renovations to ensure that the building is ready for continuous occupancy.
At this time, Rob said in the report, administration has not sourced firm pricing on the replacement of the windows but with materials and labour it is anticipated to be in the neighbourhood of $12,000. With other minor repairs, the total could reach $15,000 in unbudgeted repairs to be ready to offer it for lease. The biggest concern with this is the availability of windows, he added.
“In the fall of 2021 windows and doors were difficult to get and the lead time was very long as a result of COVID impacts to the supply chain,” Rob explained in the report.
Wagner said the building would be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Sunday and that she would stay open later if there is baseball practice or baseball games.
The lease agreement would outline what can and can not be completed on the property and insurance requirements, Rob said in the report. It may also include provisions whereby the operator would assist with the collection of rental fees for the RV and tenting sites, Rob added.
In her letter to council, Wagner said that having the canteen back up and running at Point Park is a good idea because it will bring in summer jobs. She added that having an operating canteen will contribute to promoting local business and trips that are affordable and closer to home.
“I know that because when I go swimming, I get thirsty and hungry,” Wagner said in the letter. “I will offer water bottles, pop, bottled juice, coffee, BBQ hamburger, BBQ cheeseburger, hot dogs, chips and chocolate.”
