Duane Hicks
The Fort Frances fire chief will be contacting key community partners to provide input on a back-up power and infrastructure plan at the town’s two emergency evacuation sites, as well as any other possible alternative sites.
In a report approved by town council, Chief Tyler Moffitt, who also is the Community Emergency Management Co-ordinator, noted the town currently has two emergency receiving centres: Fort Frances High School and the Memorial Sports Centre,
But the former does not have a back-up power system while the latter has a small, propane back-up generator that only may supply power to lighting and receptacles in the ’52 Canadians Arena.
“In the event Fort Frances loses power for three or more days, during a time when we are experiencing freezing temperatures, our emergency receiving centres will really be of no use to our citizens and/or visitors,” Chief Moffitt noted.
“The Fort Frances High School and the Memorial Sports Centre, along with the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre, are key buildings which need to have back-up power for lighting and heating,” he stressed.
Chief Moffitt pointed out the Fort Frances Power Corp. and Rainy River District School Board need to be brought on board to work together to establish a back-up power and infrastructure plan.
As well, the Northwest Catholic District School Board may be another key partner to bring on board as it is in the process of building a new school here, he added.
Council endorsed Chief Moffitt to proceed with contacting the relevant community partners.
Also at the Nov. 14 meeting (held a day later due to the Remembrance Day observance), council:
•referred a letter from Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce president Mark Caron, re: the 2018 tourism advertising grant, to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation;
•agreed to ensure a maintenance agreement be drafted by the town’s solicitor and presented to the local Legion regarding the maintenance of the lane along the east side of their building at 250 Church St.;
•agreed to approve the adjustment of 2017 taxes, under Section 357/358 of the Municipal Act, for property located at 602 Fourth St. W., resulting from the demolition of a garage;
•agreed to ensure the renewal of the hangar lot lease rate with 427112 Ontario Ltd. (Sky North Air) at $1.79 per square metre for the next five years;
•agreed to a request from Jacquee Loerzel, community family violence counsellor at Riverside Community Counselling Services, for council to proclaim November as “Woman Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month”; and
•referred a letter from Oakwood Road resident R. Brown, re: driveway concerns, to the Operations and Facilities executive committee for its recommendation.
