Duane Hicks
With Union Gas poised to undertake a major project to replace its natural gas distribution services here, town council will hear a presentation by Union Gas district manager Glenn Burton regarding the company’s summer construction plans during tonight’s regular meeting.
Union Gas will be replacing an estimated 43 km of steel natural gas lines within Fort Frances over the next couple of years.
While it was standard to use steel natural gas lines in years past, common practice now is to use plastic lines to deliver natural gas.
As such, Union Gas will be replacing the old pipeline here with two- and four-inch plastic lines, depending on where the lines are located.
In anticipation to the replacement project, Union Gas began survey work here last year.
Town council approved an agreement with Union Gas last September to formally exchange geographic information system (GIS) data to help the company develop an action place to replace its gas lines.
Also at tonight’s meeting, which gets underway at 6 p.m., council is expected to make a final decision on whether to go ahead with Phase II of the Heritage Tourism project, which includes the refurbishment and relocation of the Hallett and lookout tower to the La Verendrye Parkway (Front Street).
As previously reported, the $1.459-million project also includes a riverfront deck with viewfinders, a playground development, landscaping, signage,
interpretive panels, and wayfinding connecting the downtown core to the riverfront.
The town’s share of the project is about $293,500, with the rest being paid for through federal and provincial grants as well as local partners (i.e., the BIA and Chamber of Commerce).
Other business at tonight’s council meeting will include:
•consideration of a joint meeting with the Fort Frances Public Library board;
•a presentation by Fort Frances Fire Chief Gerry Armstrong on Emergency Preparedness Week in the Town of Fort Frances (May 3-9);
•a request from Northern Nutrition to put a sign on town property ;
•JEPP funding approval for a mobile command centre;
•a report regarding the safety of the tennis courts adjacent the Memorial Sports Centre;
•the BIA board request for enhanced services in 2009;
•a request from the RRFDC for gateway banner funding;
•“Building Canada” fund project applications;
•a letter of resignation from Alan Tibbetts from various town boards and committees;
•a request from Outlast Laser Sports regarding the renewal of a laser tag activity agreement;
•a request from the “Relay for Life” for in-kind services at Pither’s Point Park;
•a request from the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce regarding “community festival” designation;
•a financial request from Bearskin Airlines regarding the annual Bearskin Airlines Charity Golf Classic;
•a request to proclaim June, 2009 as “Seniors Month,” and June 15, 2009 as “World Elder Abuse Awareness Day,” in the Town of Fort Frances;
•a letter of concern from local resident Helen Crook regarding deer in town;
•a bylaw to authorize the purchase of property at the southwest corner of the intersection of Victoria Avenue and Nelson Street for municipal purposes;
•a bylaw to formally assume and dedicate as a public thoroughfare certain property acquired at the southwest corner of the intersection of Victoria Avenue and Nelson Street;
•a bylaw to approve a municipal bear response agreement with the MNR with respect to black bear management in town;
•a bylaw to authorize an agreement for the purposes of a geospatial data exchange with Ontario;
•a bylaw to authorize a encroachment agreement with Rainy River Standard Condominium No. 1 (Riverwalk Condominium) for the property known as 611 Nelson St.; and
•a bylaw to authorize an agreement for the installation of a truck-mounted fuel dispensing system awarded through the public tender process.
