BIA looking to put money into ‘Re-Inventing’

With the construction of a Wal- Mart here on the horizon, town council last night accepted an offer from the local Business Improvement Area to sit down and discuss partnering for the benefit of the downtown core.
“Our board is considering offering assistance to become a significant partner in the economic development of the downtown area,” said BIA vice-chair Larry Syrovy, who was accompanied chairman Russ Ling at last night’s regular council meeting at the Civic Centre.
Syrovy noted the BIA is interested in seeing a “gateway” area developed at the border—part of the “Re-Inventing Fort Frances” plan—as well as increased parking, signage, and access routes to ensure visitors can get to, and spend some time in, the downtown area.
This is particularly important with news of Wal-Mart coming here in the near future, he added, noting the increased traffic flow that Wal-Mart would bring could be a good thing—if the potential consumers could be drawn to the downtown area as well as the west end, where the Wal-Mart store would be located.
Syrovy warned a failure to capitalize on this could result in businesses closing and property abandoned, and loss of commercial revenue for the town, which would have to be compensated for with hikes in residential taxes.
“We are offering our co-operation, our resources, our help to make sure the downtown area will remain vital and grow,” he stressed.
“I’m really pleased to see you’re stepping up to the plate financially.
That’s what we’ve been looking for,” remarked Coun. Deane Cunningham, adding the town’s participation in projects such as the “gateway” are reliant on split-funding between the provincial and federal governments as well as local partners like the BIA and Chamber of Commerce.
Council and the BIA will meet again next Tuesday (May 20) at 6 p.m. for a one-hour discussion.
In related news, council last night chose to move forward with two recommendations from the “Re-Inventing Fort Frances” final report upon direction from the Administration and Finance executive committee.
The “gateway” bridge enhancement— estimated at $230,000— will be forwarded to the International Bridge & Terminal Co., Abitibi-Consolidated Inc., Boise Cascade, the BIA, and Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce for their consideration of funding assistance.
Council also agreed to hire a “Re-Inventing” project co-ordinator on the conditions an RFP process be undertaken via the Rainy River Future Development Corp. and the cost (estimated at $100,000) be shared by federal, provincial, and local sources.
But council decided to table the idea to form a new town-sponsored committee to monitor and oversee the implementation of “Re-Inventing Fort Frances” projects for the time being.
In other business at last night’s meeting, council:
•saw a vocal performance, in conjunction with the town’s centennial celebrations, by Marnie Dutton and Nicole Evans’ Grade 1-3 class at Alexander MacKenzie School (the students sang “O Canada,” “This Land is My Land,” “Touch the Pioneers,” and “Happy Centennial”);
•heard a verbal update by CAO Bill Naturkach and Mayor Glenn Witherspoon regarding the town’s future with Paris, Tenn., and the recent visit here by Paris Mayor Larry Crawford and city manager Carl Holden;
•referred a complaint from Jeanne Kaun, manager of Skyview Apartments on First Street East, regarding excessive noise from Warp 9 to the Planning and Development executive committee for recommendation with input from the OPP and Police Services Board;
•referred a request from the Waste Diversion Ontario re: completion of recycling data collection and funding requirements information survey to the Operations and Facilities executive committee for referral;
•granted a request to proclaim May 24-25 as “Take Off Pounds Sensibly” Recognition Days;
•granted a request from Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc. to proclaim May 12-18 as National Nursing Week;
•passed a bylaw to approve a contract of employment as treasury assistant with Laurie Witherspoon for the Town of Fort Frances;
•passed a bylaw to appoint certain officers of the Corporation of the Town of Fort Frances; and
•passed a bylaw to approve a schedule of remuneration structure for management and nonunion staff.