FFCBC

    The Town of Fort Frances is giving the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship a one-time operational grant for $7,500 for policing services at this year’s tourney coming up July 22-28.
    Council agreed to this Monday night upon recommendation from the Administration and Finance executive committee, who had met with FFCBC chairman Jim Cumming to explain the history of policing and security required for the bass tournament.
    In an interview yesterday, Cumming noted that the FFCBC paid $7,400 for OPP officers to be on site in 2005 and $6,980 in 2006, and anticipated an increase from that this year.
    He also noted police officers are necessary on site because the tournament’s insurance policy dictates neither Lakeland Security staff nor FFCBC volunteers are allowed to act as police and remove people from the bass site.
    Coun. Sharon Tibbs, chair of the Administration and Finance executive committee, noted Monday that “there’s been an acceleration of incidents” at the bass tourney in recent years, and that OPP Insp. Dave Lucas feels this “demands a police presence.”
    “The reason that the bass championship committee came to the town for one-time policing costs is they’ve really escalated this year. It kind of blindsided them,” noted Mayor Roy Avis.
    “With the presence they’re going to require at that tournament, they came to the town to help them through this situation,” he added.
    The executive committee recommended the funding for policing services “in the interest of public safety at this widely-attended community event.”
    In addition to a long list of in-kind services the town once again has granted the FFCBC, council also agreed at its June 25 meeting to give the tournament a $3,000 operating grant this year.
    While mayor and council agreed the FFCBC is a popular community event that provides an economic boost to the area, they all made it clear Monday night that the town can only give so much to the FFCBC, especially since the town can’t be expected to help out every organization that asks for help.
    “It is the feeling of council, and probably the bass tournament committee, that they’re going to have to look at different means of paying for this next year, if possible, or even re-think the whole process,” said Mayor Avis.
    “I think in all cases, we’ve said it’s one-time funding only,” said Coun. Paul Ryan. “They’ve got to look at realigning their budget. We don’t want to be running it.”
    Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig noted that after meeting Cumming, it’s clear to the town that the FFCBC is having its share of problems this year, whether it’s escalating costs or a shortage of volunteers.
    “The community has to realize that they have to come forward and volunteer to keep it a community event,” McCaig stressed. “It will never be a town-run event.”
    “It’s a good thing for the community and district,” said Coun. John Albanese, encouraging the public to volunteer.
    As he will be out of town in late July, Coun. Albanese lamented this will be the first time in 13 years he won’t be able to lend a hand himself at the FFCBC.