Council fielding slew of requests tonight

While they won’t see any presentations per se, town council will have a full plate tonight with a veritable laundry list of requests ranging from financial donations to proclamations.
Among the requests are:
•a per capita contribution request from the Rainy River Future Development Corp. for project initiatives (this is in the amount of $52,9555—a $70 per capita contribution based on the municipal population of 7,565, as stated in the 2007 Association of Municipalities Directory);
•a request from the Fort Frances High School “chem-free” grad committee regarding the waiving of rental fees for the arena and auditorium, and a financial donation towards the purchase of prizes, for the “chem-free grad” party on June 25;
•a request from the Canadian Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” committee for in-kind services at the local “Relay for Life” event slated June 27-28;
•a request from the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship Inc. for financial and in-kind support of the 2008 FFCBC coming up July 20-26;
•a request from the Fort Frances Senior Games committee for donation of giveaways for the District 1A Senior Games here June 17-19;
•a request from Corey and Natalie Cousineau to use town parks for “laser tag” activities;
•a request from the Political Action Committee (Thunder Bay District 2-Retired Teachers of Ontario) regarding the lobbying of elected officials for highway upgrades;
•a request from the Ontario Nurses’ Association to proclaim May 12-18 as “Nursing Week” in the Town of Fort Frances;
•a request from the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters to proclaim July 4-6 as “Ontario Family Fishing Weekend” in the Town of Fort Frances; and
•a request from the Canadian Hearing Society to proclaim May, 2008 as “Hearing Loss Awareness Month” in the Town of Fort Frances.
Tonight’s committee of the whole meeting will start at 5:30 p.m., but be in-camera until 6:40.
In-camera matters include:
•a hearing on an application of a renewal of a business licence;
•a verbal update from town solicitor Wesley Derksen on multiple items in litigation;
•discussion regarding protection of property with consultant Ted Berry;
•an expression of interest; and
•a property matter.
The meeting of council is scheduled to follow at 7:15 p.m. Other business at tonight’s council meeting will include:
•a public meeting regarding applications or tax adjustment for property at 657 Second St. E.;
•a letter from the Northern Action Group (NAG) regarding the proposed elimination of Greyhound bus service from Fort Frances to Thunder Bay;
•a letter from W. Albright regarding billing for a frozen a waterline at 1005 Crowe Ave.;
•a bylaw to amend Bylaw 10/03 (the Traffic Control Bylaw) in accordance with numerous recommendations made by the Border Traffic Advisory Committee at the March 24 council meeting;
•a bylaw to authorize the execution of an agreement with the Minister of Transport for airport capital funding under the Airport Capital Assistance Program (this is for a decelerometer, which is used to test braking action on the runway, at the Fort Frances Municipal Airport);
•a bylaw to enter into a lease agreement with Shane Armstrong at the Fort Frances Municipal Airport;
•a bylaw to authorize the town’s participation in funding from the Minister of Transportation for highway “Connecting Link” capital improvements in 2008;
•a bylaw to authorize a system of progressive pay for volunteer firefighters of the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Services;
•an item regarding the Strachan Place subdivision and Phase 3 lots;
•an invitation from the Salvation Army to a volunteer appreciation dinner here April 19;
•an item from paramedic John Beaton regarding support for an amendment to the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) pension plan to allow paramedics the right to negotiate a normal retirement age of 60 (NRA 60);
•a resolution from the Economic Development Advisory Committee regarding the formation of a committee to investigate re-development of the tourist information centre location; and
•notice of a meeting of the Northwestern Health Unit on April 23 regarding a community garden.