Duane Hicks
Fireworks will get a boost here this Canada Day.
At a budget meeting yesterday afternoon, town council agreed to give $7,500 to help put on the pyrotechnics display—$2,500 more than it has in past years.
The request came from Dave Coats of the Fun in the Sun committee, which has seen the costs associated with the display rise each year.
The committee has had to make up for the increases through fundraising, sponsorship, and even personal donations, as well as reducing the amount of product ordered.
And the price is expected to be higher this year due to last year’s chemical plant explosion in Tianjin, China.
Council wholeheartedly supported hiking its grant.
“I’ve been helping set up the fireworks for 15 years and we’ve never had more than $5,000 the whole time I’ve been there,” said Coun. June Caul.
“It’s been $5,000 for quite a few years,” she noted, adding the request is for only an extra $2,500.
Mayor Roy Avis said the fireworks are a highlight of the summer.
“It speaks for itself when you go down and see all the people along the river enjoying the fireworks as a family gathering,” he remarked.
“I think we should enjoy it.”
Reviewing other budget requests yesterday, council agreed to increase the Police Services Board’s 2016 budget by $10,000 for a one-time expenditure to buy two portable electronic speed signs.
It also increased the PSB’s travel budget by $1,200 to allow more members to attend the Ontario Association of Police Service Boards’ annual general meeting.
Meanwhile, council approved a grant to Meals on Wheels in the amount of $19,000 and agreed to keep $112,000 in the budget it has earmarked as its share of the future multi-use tennis court project.
Council did not approve a request from the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce for a $2,000 increase for its fee-for-service ($9,500 instead of $7,500) at this time, citing it needs more financial information from the Chamber.
And in response to resident Ian McKay’s requests for changes at the Memorial Sports Centre, Community Services manager Jason Kabel reported many of his concerns have been addressed or are being addressed.
For example, dumbbells and a new treadmill currently are in the 2016 capital budget, the weight bench is bolted to the floor, and the weight stacks are scheduled to be cleaned.
The 2016 preliminary operating budget currently shows a deficit of $165,923 while the capital budget sits at $17.9 million.
One capital budget discussed briefly yesterday was new corporate financial software.
Council set aside $75,000 in the 2016 capital budget to acquire software, which not only will help town staff be more efficient but potentially offer new options, such as e-billing and online payments to customers.
Council will take a closer look at its capital budget at its next budget meeting Feb. 1.
The town’s estimated reserve fund balance, as of Dec. 31, 2015, sits at $12.6 million.
