Town to back ‘Relay for Life’

The Town of Fort Frances once again will support the Canadian Cancer Society in its “Relay for Life” fundraiser coming up here June 25-26.
A report by Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown recommended the town donate use of the campgrounds at Pither’s Point Park for the all-night event.
This is equivalent to a donation in the amount of $360, and is considered a council public relations expense for budget purposes.
Brown noted this deal is on the condition that the Canadian Cancer Society be responsible for the costs of emptying the waste containers at Pither’s Point afterwards.
Council agreed to this donation.
In other news from Monday night’s meeting, council authorized that a bylaw be prepared to create a handicap parking zone within the newly-created drop-off zones along the west side of Keating Avenue adjacent to J.W. Walker School.
Parking at said handicap and drop-off zones will be limited to 15 minutes.
No parking to be allowed along the east side of Keating Avenue from King’s Highway to Morrison Street.
Meanwhile, council also approved a report from Brown that recommends revising the tipping fees at the town landfill for when the scale there is not operational.
In case of the scale ever breaking down, the rates will be $11 for passenger vehicles, $12 for half-ton trucks, and $18 for passenger vehicles or half-tons pulling a single-axle trailer.
Also Monday night, council:
•approved a report from Rick Hallam, superintendent of Planning and Development, to direct the Fort Frances OPP to initiate a public safety awareness campaign regarding the use of motorized scooters and wheelchairs on town streets and sidewalks;
•agreed to declare town-owned property on Nelson Street (currently used as a park) as surplus, and start the process of evaluating its worth and advertising it for sale (this property is to be developed for residential use only);
•agreed to a report from Brown that recommends the town enter into a land lease agreement for the development of private hangars at the Fort Frances Airport with Tom Cousineau, Doug MacDonald, and John Myers;
•denied a request from the Fort Frances Kiwanis Club to waive the required $250 fee for a minor variance to allow relief of parking provisions within the zoning bylaw for the proposed skate park;
•agreed to authorize staff to process the annual payment of $650 to the Rainy River Vet Services assistance trust fund;
•agreed to support a resolution from the Township of North Shore to see representatives of the Town Youth Participation Strategy included in consultations with the Ministry of Children and Youth; and
•agreed to a request from the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) calling for the Ontario finance minister to review improving service quality at the Municipal Property Assessment Corp.