A delegation from the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce will make a brief presentation at Monday night’s town council meeting regarding the ’52 Canadians Arena being unusable for any non-ice related events.
“The background is I had the double ice surfaces booked for the trade show this [coming] spring and now we’re told we can’t use the ’52 Canadians Arena if there’s no ice surface,” Chamber co-ordinator Dawn Booth said Monday morning.
Booth explained that with no ice, the arena’s occupancy rate changes and fire regulations dictate that without a sprinkler system, a large event like a trade show or conference can’t be held there.
“We’re not only concerned for ourselves, but for anyone else who wanted to use it,” she noted, adding it also raises questions like, “How can the old arena be an emergency shelter if it can’t be used for non-sporting event?”
Chamber president Alan Tibbetts will give tonight’s presentation.
Preceding tonight’s council meeting, which starts at 7:20 p.m., is a special public meeting at 7 p.m. regarding proposed zoning bylaw amendments for lots at both 1305 Mill Rd. and 1250 King’s Highway.
Other business at Monday night’s meeting includes:
•a proposed landfill tipping fee increase;
•the supply of flowers for parks and cemeteries for 2003;
•the “Blue Box” pickup schedule for Christmas;
•financial contribution requests from the Northwestern Ontario Crime Stoppers and the Rainy River District Music Festival;
•discussion of a proposed bass statue as a tourist attraction;
•information from Coun. Dave Bourgeault regarding the development of a heliport;
•a bylaw to approve a service agreement with Municipal Tax Equity Consultants Inc.;
•a bylaw to approve the purchase and licensing agreements for computer software and hardware maintenance with MicroAge Technology Services; and
•discussion regarding renaming certain streets in town “Canada Street” as per a request from local resident Melvin Haukaas.
The committee of the whole will meet first at 5:30 p.m. downstairs at the Civic Centre.
