Chamber seeks break on arena rental

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce is asking town council to waive an arena rental fee of $465 after a wrestling event held there back in April didn’t prove profitable.
In a letter to the town, Chamber president Roberta Oliver said the income statement from the Canadian Wrestling Federation show showed an actual loss of more than $2,500.
“The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce has been a key organizer of several major projects over the last few years in order to make the area a better place in which to live, work, play, and conduct business,” Oliver wrote.
These include the town beautification project, business retention and expansion project, the trade show, business awards, “Quest for the Best,” angler and hunter marketing, a Christmas gala, and a $120,000 U.S. marketing campaign, among others, she noted.
“In order to provide these project to our members, we must conduct other events to offset the costs involved,” Oliver stated.
“After two years of financial statements showing a $20,000 deficit, we find ourselves in a very sticky situation,” she stressed. “Therefore, we are asking mayor and council to consider waiving our arena rental fee of $465 for the wrestling event.”
Also on the agenda at Monday night’s council meeting:
•a report on downtown parking from the Planning and Development Division;
•a request from the Rainy River Future Development Corp. to consider permitting Tom Veert Contracting to buy an industrial parking lot;
•a request from the Economic Development Advisory Committee for financial support of a family fun day to be held in July, 2003;
•a bylaw to amend Bylaw No. 26/02 to adopt tax rates and provide penalty and interest in default of payment in 2002;
•two applications for amendments to the zoning bylaw;
•a request from the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association to endorse a “Grow Bonds North” proposal discussed at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference Aug. 19;
•a proclamation to make Oct. 14-20 Canada’s Citizenship Week;
•information on the annual “Northern Networks” Trade Conference coming up Oct. 16-18 at Baraboo, Wis.; and
•a bylaw to approve purchase and licensing agreements, and other documents, with various suppliers of computer hardware and software.
The council meeting gets underway at 7 p.m. at the Civic Centre. The committee of the whole meets first downstairs at 5:30.