Town, RRFDC strike deal

The Town of Fort Frances and Rainy River Future Development Corp. will continue to work together after reaching a deal here Monday night.
“Council concluded negotiations and we passed a motion approving the proposal,” Fort Frances CAO Bill Naturkach confirmed.
Although it has yet to be signed and sealed, the town passed a motion agreeing in principle to a contract with the RRFDC which will see it sign a three-month contract, followed by the option of five, one-year ones.
“It’s important that they stay with us and it’s important for the rest of the area. It’s good all the way around,” said RRFDC chairman Telford Advent.
The length of the contract had been a point of contention between the two sides. Town council wanted the ability to pull out if the town’s needs weren’t met while the RRFDC wanted a long enough contract to be able to hire a full-time employee.
As part of the deal, council agreed to the five-year plan with the option of withdrawing with notice.
“We have a five-year plan with an option each year. We have a clause in there that if they don’t like it, they can give 90 days and they can get out,” Advent noted.
The cost of the contract has been worked out on a hourly basis, and the RRFDC’s employee also will report regularly to the committee of the whole of council.
Earlier this fall, council decided to opt out of renewing its contract with the RRFDC in favour of hiring the town’s own economic development officer–a move which irked some district municipalities.
But when the town advertised for the position, the RRFDC was among the 10 applicants for the job. And when all others failed to meet the town’s demands, council renewed negotiations with the corporation.
“It’s always been my view that everyone has to co-operate,” said Advent, who now plans to approach other district municipalities that aren’t currently RRFDC members.