With the aim to start construction this spring, John Knox of Chamberlain Architects will present council with the most recent plans for the new Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre this evening.
Joyce Cunningham, chair of the Fort Frances Public Library board, said Friday Knox will be providing an overview of what’s been done up to date.
“We now have the architectural sketches from John Knox. We’ve looked at them, we’re down to looking at details,” she noted, adding Knox will have on hand some sketches of both the interior and exterior of the future library, along with the “footprint” and floor plan.
Cunningham noted people who may recall conceptual sketches from the “Building for the Future” campaign kickoff in March, 2007, should know the design has been changed considerably and refined since then.
“We’re very excited about this. We have, with his help, managed to get in all that we wanted, all that we needed, all that was suggested way, way back in the feasibility study,” remarked Cunningham. “But John has done it in such a way to reduce the size to just under 15,000 sq. ft, instead of 17,000 sq. ft. That is very good for budget purposes.
“We’ve worked out timelines with John that we are both very happy with, and therefore are sticking to our original plan, which is to start construction this spring, when the frost is out of the ground,” she added.
Cunningham noted she is “unbelievably excited about this whole thing.” “It is amazing how somebody can take your vague thoughts and dreams and turn them into a drawing where you say, ‘Yes. Yes, that’s what I meant.’ [John’s] a wonderful man to work with,” she said.
“It’s pretty exciting and I’m sure that the people who come out to see him and listen to him will be as happy and excited and proud as a I am,” added Cunningham. “I am proud of this town, I’m proud of this council, who’s had the vision and has worked with us for so long.”
Tonight’s committee of the whole meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. but will be in-camera until 6:05 p.m. It will be followed by the council meeting at 6:40 p.m.
Other business at tonight’s meeting will include:
•a quarterly police activity report from OPP detachment commander Insp. Dave Lucas;
•an annual report on the Fort Frances Wastewater Treatment Facility from Jeff Trudeau, project manager for Ontario Regional Projects-American water Canada Corp.;
•a letter from resident Crystal Morrison regarding a taxation invoice;
•a bylaw to authorize the entering into of certain lease agreements at the Fort Frances Municipal Airport;
•a bylaw to amend Bylaw 10/03 (Traffic Control Bylaw). This amendment is to: move a handicap parking spot from one part of the 300 block of Scott Street to another; to prohibit parking on a portion of Butler Avenue and Victoria Avenue; and to create a loading zone on the west side of Victoria Avenue, adjacent to Northland Basics, and just north of the intersection on Scott Street;
•a sponsorship request for the “Rockin’ the Library” fundraiser event scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 23; and
•a letter from resident Helen Crook regarding the need for an assisted living facility.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
