Duane Hicks
Town council showed its support for local arts and culture after approving a “Tour de Fort” sponsorship for the 2017-18 season.
Council agreed to a recommendation from the Administration & Finance executive committee to be a “Silver” level sponsor, in the amount of $500, during its regular meeting last night.
This was in response to a request from “Tour de Fort” last month to consider reducing its rental fees for the Townshend Theatre.
Coun. June Caul expressed her appreciation to the “Tour de Fort” executive and committee members for providing top-notch acts year after year.
“If any of you out there haven’t been to ‘Tour de Fort’ and haven’t bought a ticket [passport] in the last few years, you really should get one,” she urged.
“They really have been bringing in fantastic entertainment for this area and they’re to be commended,” Coun. Caul added.
“I was really glad to see our committee did decide to give them a little money to help them [defer Townshend Theatre rental fees],” she noted, adding she would have liked to have seen the town give it more.
Coun. Caul said “Tour de Fort,” and the artists it brings here, “bring another flavour to Fort Frances.”
She lauded those behind the scenes at “Tour de Fort,” in particular programmers John and Sheri Payne, “who’ve done an awesome job of the programs the last couple of years.”
“And the coming year will be even better yet,” Coun. Caul said.
Just like all “Tour de Fort” sponsors, the Town of Fort Frances will be acknowledged during the introduction of each of the six performances of the series.
As well, the town’s logo or name will be included on printed materials, the “Tour de Fort” website, and the pre-show slideshow.
The town also will receive tickets to each performance, along with exclusive invitations to the post-show receptions to meet the artists.
Tender approved
In other news, council last night awarded the tender for construction of the Rainy Lake Square, as well as the replacement of the brick sidewalk along the 200 block of Scott Street and the block entry sidewalks at the Civic Centre, to RML Contracting of Thunder Bay.
The total cost is $2,101,997.15, which includes the town’s portion of HST and a contingency allowance of $92,000.
The sewer and water works portion, totalling $26,095.81, will be funded by the sewer and water reserves.
The remaining budget shortfall of $366,155.42 will be funded by the allocation of $170,000 of the 2016 budget surplus and $196,155.42 from the corporate projects reserve.
A meeting with the contractor and downtown stakeholders will be called in the near future, and the public can expect to see heavy equipment on-site as soon as next week.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•approved the 2017 capping parameters, and directed that the authorizing capping parameters bylaw, and the percentage by which tax decreases are limited bylaw, be prepared and brought forward to the May 23 council meeting;
•awarded RFP 17-OF-06 (five-year maintenance agreement for municipal property at the airport and 1003 Frog Creek Rd.) to H. Kelly, and further that an agreement be drafted to reflect the terms of the RFP and executed along with authorizing bylaw by the mayor and clerk;
•approved the BIA (The Shops on Scott) 2017 budget and tax rates, and authorized that a bylaw setting the 2017 BIA tax rates, levy, and collection be brought forth to the May 23 council meeting (the budget is $81,740);
•received the Minutes of Settlement for property located at 527 Third St. W. in Fort Frances for the 2016 taxation year (the total financial impact is $239.50, consisting of a reduction of municipal revenue of $215.06 and education revenue of $24.44); and
•referred a letter from W. Allen and J. Cuthbertson, co-chairs of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship Inc., re: event support to the Administration & Finance executive committee for its recommendation, with input from all the other executive committees.
