Kids once again will have something to play on at Pither’s Point Park after town council approved the purchase of new playground equipment there under the 2006 budget.
Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown noted in a report that the Operations and Facilities executive committee recommended one adult swing, one baby swing, and a composite play structure be purchased and installed at the park this summer.
This equipment is estimated to cost $34,000.
The report also stressed the equipment should be ordered immediately to ensure it arrives and is installed prior to June 1.
Last year, new playground equipment—which was purchased by the town and the local Crime Stoppers board—was earmarked for the parks on Front Street, Lillie Avenue, and Phair Avenue.
But it ended up not being installed until the early fall.
The parks had most or all of their equipment removed in the summer of 2004 after an audit done by certified playground inspector Paul LaFreniere determined they did not meet current safety standards.
The recommendation to get the equipment for Pither’s Point Park passed by a vote of 6-1 at Monday night’s council meeting, with only Coun. Roy Avis opposed.
< *c>Rate hike
Meanwhile, as first reported in yesterday’s Daily Bulletin, town residents and businesses will see a slight difference on their next sewer and water bill after council passed a bylaw Monday night approving a two percent increase to rates for all classes.
The hike was approved by a vote of 5-1, with Couns. John Albanese, Roy Avis, Tannis Drysdale, Todd Hamilton, and Rick Wiedenhoeft voting in favour of it and Mayor Dan Onichuk against.
(Coun. Neil Kabel had to leave the meeting prior to the vote).
The vote came after a public meeting was held in order to give people a chance to speak in favour of, or against, the rate increase.
But there were no comments from the public, nor any discussion amongst council, during this meeting.
The rate increase comes into effect immediately, and will be factored into utility customers’ next bill (for the months of January and February).
Last year, residential and commercial customers saw a 10 percent increase in their sewer and water rates.
Also at Monday night’s meeting, council:
•approved the appointment of Donna McKelvie to the Museum Advisory Committee (this term expires Nov. 30, 2006);
•referred a request for advertising from Brown Cow Promotions back to the Administration and Finance executive committee for further consideration;
•approved a three percent increase in provider pay, effective Jan. 1, 2006, for private home day care providers;
•agreed to initiate the hiring process to recruit a second special needs teacher for the Fort Frances Children’s Complex;
•approved a report recommending the functioning water meter for McDonald’s Restaurant not be replaced in accordance with the existing bylaw, but hold off until the new water distribution system bylaw is in place and a decision is finalized by council as to who is responsible for replacing meters that are more than 10 years old;
•approved a report to donate the use of Pither’s Point property and the camping sites there for the Canadian Cancer Society’s annual “Relay for Life” on June 16-17;
•agreed to extend the current town maintenance service contracts with Pryde’s Plumbing and Heating, Ed Halvorsen Construction, and Galbraith Electric (these all are two-year terms ending Jan. 1, 2008);
•approved a report to ensure all the flowers put out by the local Chamber of Commerce and Business Improvement Association this spring are watered and fertilized on a regular basis (this will be at an estimated cost of $5,943.30, drawn from the Parks General Account);
•agreed to enter into a one-year agreement with the Electrical Safety Authority, at a cost of $7,879.50 plus taxes, for continuous electrical safety services;
•approved a report directing that Bylaw 10/03 be amended to reinstate calendar parking along the 300 block of Fourth Street West (this is due to the fact Roy’s Repair is no longer in business and the calendar parking relief is no longer needed); and
•authorized that the remaining 2004 budget surplus of $371,988.38, and any remaining 2005 budget surplus, be transferred to the Administration and Finance surplus reserve fund.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
