Library funding appeal denied by province

Town delegates found out they’ll have to foot more of the construction costs for the new library and technology centre here than previously hoped after speaking with Northern Development and Mines minister Michael Gravelle last week in Toronto.
“We were requesting funding for the library and technology centre that we are building at the present time, and were basically told that the NOHFC [Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp.] does not fund libraries or sports centre, and therefore we would not be in line for any funding for our library,” said Mayor Roy Avis.
The mayor (who attended the Ontario Good Roads Association/Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference along with Couns. John Albanese, Andrew Hallikas, and Paul Ryan, and Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig) said the town had applied for an NOHFC grant for the library in past months but was turned down.
More recently, the town filed an appeal with the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, which the delegates personally lobbied for last week.
Mayor Avis said the NOHFC grant application was for $500,000, and that the town also is waiting to hear whether or not the new library will get a FedNor grant.
Combined with the town’s currently unfunded portion of the construction costs, this potentially could mean the town will have to pay well over $1 million towards the $3.9-million project in the 2008 budget.
“It’s going to really put a lot of pressure on council with the capital budget this year,” the mayor admitted. “Should we proceed or not? The unfunded portion of the library is very high.
“It’s going to be a tremendous decision for council,” he warned.
Mayor Avis said the issue will be further discussed by council at the next budget meeting on Monday, March 17.
Library board chair Joyce Cunningham said yesterday she could not comment on the status of the NOHFC appeal, but was confident the library project will move ahead this spring.
“The timelines have been established,” she noted. “We will be going to tender sometime this month and we’re still looking at starting construction in the spring of 2008, and moving in in April, 2009.
“The fundraising campaign is going well and we’ll keep working on it,” added Cunningham. “I’m still going to be happy when we walk in the door in April of 2009.
“I’m quite positive we will be moving ahead on the timelines that have been established quite clearly with the library board, with the town, and with the architect.”
< *c>Other issues
Delegates also got to bend the ears of other ministers at last week’s conference.
They met with Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs minister Leona Dombrowsky regarding support and funding for Phase II of the Heritage Tourism Plan.
This plan, which is part of the 2008 budget deliberations but likely will not proceed unless the town can get provincial funding, includes the relocation of the Hallett and lookout tower, and pathways and signage linking the museum to the waterfront, among other details.
They also met with Tourism minister Peter Fonseca regarding the relocation and upgrading of the Ontario tourism information centre here.
For several years, the town has been lobbying to get the centre moved, as right now many tourists who come across the bridge do not use it (its location forces them to backtrack after clearing Customs).
“It was a very good discussion with him. We stressed very strongly that we don’t think we should be the lead,” said Mayor Avis. “While that facility will be in Fort Frances, we think it’s a regional initiative, and therefore we shouldn’t be the actual lead in it.
“It benefits all of Northwestern Ontario so the government themselves should the lead, and we would be a key player in working with them to get this matter resolved,” he added.
“We had a very good meeting.”
Delegates also met with Environment minister John Gerretsen regarding the Household Hazardous Waste Day held here each spring.
Mayor Avis noted delegates learned there’s new legislation coming into effect July 1 that would help fund the annual event.
“Our waste day normally takes place in May, and after discussing it with Minister Gerretsen, it was recommended we move our waste day to July or August to fall under the new legislation,” he explained.
Delegates also met with Community Safety and Correctional Services minister Rick Bartolucci to ask that the province pay for court security costs instead of the town.
“We figure that’s a district initiative and that shouldn’t be a burden to the taxpayers of Fort Frances,” noted Mayor Avis. “Court security costs run about $110,000 a year, and we feel very strongly that should be picked up by the province.
“It’s a benefit for the whole district, not just the town.
“We had a very positive response from him on that. He said ‘You’re preaching to the converted,’” added the mayor. “I’m hoping we can see that savings for next year.”
Mayor Avis noted OGRA/ROMA was a worthwhile conference, where local delegates not only could get information on municipal issues but network with other rural municipalities facing similar problems as Fort Frances.
He added the focus of the conference is on smaller communities.
“You’re not competing with the cities as much. When you want meetings with the ministers, it’s much easier for us,” said Mayor Avis. “We get good coverage.”
The conference, which this year followed the theme, “The Municipal Climate: Adapting to Change,” featured workshops on subjects ranging from alternative infrastructure financing, waste management, and alternative energy to bridge condition and maintenance.
“We had some very good workshops,” noted Mayor Avis. “It was a very productive conference.”