Staff
Work on the new Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre keeps moving ahead on schedule and on budget.
Substantial completion is expected by the end of April, and landscaping done by the end of May—just in time for the grand-opening ceremony on June 21.
Community Services manager George Bell reported to council Monday night that in the past couple of weeks, the heat recovery system has been installed and will be connected to the arena next week after the ice plant is shut down.
The building committee also has finalized the landscaping plans and made some additions to them.
It also has completed a preliminary walk-through of the facility and sent a deficiencies list to general contractor Aurora Construction for its attention prior to the April 30 turnover.
Bell said there are 35 change orders for a total of $133,412.94, with an estimated additional $36,000 in change orders, including an $18,000 increase in the landscaping allowance.
The library building contingency allowance is $232,150, so Bell said the town is anticipating a $62,000 surplus in the construction phase of the project.
Presently, the building committee is awaiting delivery of most of the technology centre equipment, as well as furniture and shelving.
Bell said the committee has committed $175,710 of the $246,210 technology centre equipment, furniture, and training budget.
Meanwhile, $284,505 of the $285,000 budgeted for shelving and furniture is committed.
Bell added he is contacting FedNor to request some amendments to their contract so they can buy some more equipment, including security equipment, with the remaining funds from the technology centre budget.
The project remains on schedule for April 30 for substantial completion, with landscaping to be completed by May 30.
Also at Monday night’s meeting, council:
•approved an adjustment to aviation fuel pump prices at the Fort Frances Airport (the new pump prices, effective April 13, are set at $1.65 per litre for 100LL while Jet A-1 will be $1.41/litre);
•agreed to amend the feeding of wildlife bylaw 06/09 to include land owned by the Town of Fort Frances lying in another municipality or unorganized area (such as the airport, landfill, and Sunny Cove Camp);
•advised St. Mary’s Parish to voice their safety issues at the parking lot adjacent to the church to AbitibiBowater, which owns the parking lot;
•agreed to pay for auditorium rental fees for the FFHS “chem-free” grad party (this is in the amount of $850 plus taxes, to be paid out of the council’s public relations budget);
•directed that an authorizing bylaw be prepared re: an encroachment agreement for the Church of the Holy Spirit (824 Victoria Ave.);
•approved the transfer of title of a lane to J.N. Webb and Sons Ltd.;
•agreed to pay 2010 per capita funding for the Rainy River Future Development Corp. in the amount of $7 per capita, or a $52,955 total;
•approved a $2,000 donation to the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship operating budget, as well as several in-kind services, as requested by the FFCBC;
•approved an application to the Local Initiatives Fund for $5,000 to fund planned activities during Heritage Tourism Week, and the official opening of the Hallett and lookout tower in June;
•approved an application to the Healthy Communities Fund for $16,000 to complete Phase II of the Active Transportation Plan; and
•received a report regarding the final date for passing or amending a bylaw to place a question on the ballot in the 2010 municipal election (that date is April 28).
