Town council turned down a financial request for sponsorship from the Fort Frances Jr. Sabres at its regular meeting Monday night.
Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft explained the recommendation from the Administration and Finance executive committee was made on the basis that the town already helps out the team.
“I think it should be pointed out the Town of Fort Frances does contribute, in reduced (ice) rental rates, pool/fitness centre rates, and other in-kind services, a total of $9,405 to the Jr. Sabres,” he noted.
“I think that credit should be given to the Town of Fort Frances for the substantial contribution already,” Coun Wiedenhoeft stressed. “I think the Sabres should recognize that.”
In other news, town council will vote next month on a bylaw to amend its official plan and rezone property at the site of Robert Moore School after holding a public meeting Monday evening.
As previously reported, the Rainy River District School Board applied to the town to amend its official plan, as well as the pertinent zoning bylaw, to allow for construction of a new elementary school on the Robert Moore School property.
The requests are to change the designation of the north portion of owned property on the 500 block of Second Street East between Fourth Street East and Crowe Avenue from “recreation area” to “living area,” and rezone the lands from “open space” to “institutional.”
While the public was invited to speak Monday evening as to why or why not the official plan should be amended and the property rezoned, no one stepped forward.
In her comments, municipal planner Faye Flatt said she conducted a technical review of the application, which also had been circulated to the appropriate municipal divisions, and found no issues of concern or adverse financial implications for the municipality as a result of the proposal.
The new school, which is expected to open its doors in September, 2010, will be a consolidation of the current Robert Moore and Huffman elementary schools.
Both Huffman and Robert Moore had been declared prohibitive to repair (meaning the cost of repair exceeds the cost of building new).
Also at Monday night’s meeting, council:
•appointed Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig as the accountable executive for Phase 1 of the Safety Management System at the Fort Frances Municipal Airport;
•received the June, 2008 drinking water systems monthly summary report;
•approved the renewal of town benefit policies with Manulife and Sun Life Financial;
•agreed to sign a 2008 “Bear Wise” funding agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources;
•supported a request from the Youth Action Alliance of Fort Frances to host an event here Aug. 12, waiving rental fees and letting the alliance utilize Pither’s Point Park and La Verendrye Parkway to host it;
•received Minutes of Settlement for properties at 841 Sixth St. W., 393 Pit Road #2, 565 Church St.; and 410 Third St. E.;
•received, wth appreciation for service, a letter of resignation/retirement, effective Sept. 30, 2008, from Loreen Holt, administrative assistant at the Fort Frances Children’s Complex;
•received a report recommending the development of a rental policy for the committee room downstairs at the Civic Centre, and to increase the rental fee from $25 to $50 for all external users;
•referred the town’s physician recruitment incentive package to the Administration and Finance executive committee for review;
•approved purchase card expenses for CAO Mark McCaig in the amount of $1,072.13 (for travel expenses for his trip to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference held in Quebec City at the end of May, as well as a lunch meeting with the town solicitor on June 17, 2008); and
•approved purchase card expenses for Mayor Roy Avis in the amount of $407.93 (for Canada Day parade supplies).
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
