After some councillors refused to pay the $1.7 million price tag originally attached to the job to repair Front Street, they changed their minds during last night’s council meeting here, opting to pursue a scaled-down fix-up.
Pat Hickerson, Manager of Operation and Facilities, presented council with three options ranging from $674,500 to $50,000 in cost.
Council ultimately went with option two, a $674,900 job that will see the reconstruction of Victoria Avenue to Crowe Avenue, and patching from Crowe Avenue to Butler Avenue, and Butler Avenue to the Sorting Gap Marina.
With $205,000 available for repairs, the balance of $469,900 would come from the 2003 Planning and Development and capital projects budgets.
Coun. Roy Avis and Coun. Deane Cunningham expressed concern that the town should avoid dipping into the reserves, but still approved the project to go ahead on the condition the matter immediately be referred to Administration and Finance, Operations and Facilities and Planning Executive Committees to determine what cuts could be made to the 2003 budget to pay for the repairs.
There has been some pressure on council to do something with Front Street as its been aiming to have the road repaired before the July 1 opening of Phase II of the La Verendrye Parkway. This job will immediately go out to tender.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•saw a presentation by Jillian Langtry and Riley Tibbs of Mrs. Jordbro’s Grade 3 class at St. Michael’s School. This was done in response to a request for local schools to participate in the town centennial celebration;
•heard a presentation by Steve Maki, chair of the Kiwanis skatepark committee. Maki made an appeal for interim bridge funding in the amount of $150,000 to be put towards the proposed skatepark, to which council agreed to refer the matter to the Administration and Finance Executive Committee on the condition Maki make available more information, such as a cost breakdown, as soon as possible;
•passed a by-law to approve a service agreement with Municipal Tax Equity Services;
•approved a by-law to approve an agreement for funding under the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program;
•referred a request from the Northwest Catholic District School Board regarding the provision of handicapped parking on Frenette Avenue, just outside St. Michael’s School, to the Planning and Development Executive Committee for recommendation;
•referred a request from Mary Angus to buy town property to Administration and Finance Executive Committee for recommendation; and
•agreed to send a letter to Rainy River First Nations in support of their land claims.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
