Staff
After having a chance to thoroughly discuss it, town council passed an amended resolution regarding the future of the idled Resolute Forest Products mill here at its regular meeting last night.
“Council worked together before we came to Council Chambers tonight on the resolution that had been forwarded last week regarding the mill and Resolute property,” Mayor June Caul said during the meeting.
“We have gone through them as a whole, we have amended them as a whole, so that we’ll be able to vote on them tonight,” she added, noting it was deferred last week so council could have time together to discuss it before voting on it.
Following Mayor Caul’s reading of the resolution, council unanimously approved it.
The resolution states the town should demand that Resolute:
•allow all bidders on the mill the ability to engage in dialogue with government prior to submitting their bid so that they can reasonably prepare for a successful acquisition of the mill;
•allow sufficient time for bids on the mill to be prepared and submitted;
•inform the Town of Fort Frances, in confidence, of the identity of bidders so the town may engage in discussions with them and provide information that is responsive to the bidders’ plans for the mill properties; and
•comply with the terms of the SFL [Sustainable Forest Licence] and engage in a process to provide access to wood fibre in the Crossroute Forest, reflecting such intention in any bid or tender package issued in respect of the sale of the mill.
The resolution goes on to state the Town of Fort Frances calls on the premier of Ontario and the minister of natural resources and forestry to use all measures within their authority:
•to ensure the mill is open for business;
•to provide access to fibre in the Crossroute Forest to potential operators of the mill, in keeping with the text of the SFL; and
•to support outcomes for the mill which create jobs and prosperity in Fort Frances and surrounding municipalities and First Nations.
Fort Frances will issue a copy of the resolution to Resolute, Premier Doug Ford, Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford, provincial Opposition leaders and critics of natural resources, and all Rainy River District municipal and First Nations councils and representative bodies.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•heard presentations from Fort Frances Public Library CEO Caroline Goulding and NCDS executive director Nicke Paddock (see tomorrow’s Times for details);
•approved the adjustment of taxes for property located at 335 Scott St., resulting from the demolition of a building to allow the land to be used as a parking lot;
•agreed to the recommendation of the Administration and Finance Executive Committee to process the Minutes of Settlement for the property located at 905 Frenette Ave. (the total financial impact cannot be calculated at this time as the 2019 tax rates are not yet approved but with 2018 rates, the municipal impact is $595.06 and education is $61.20 for a total of $656.26);
•agreed to the recommendation of the Administration and Finance executive committee that the Rainy River Future Development Corp.’s $7 per capita request in the amount of $55,685 be included in the 2019 general operational budget;
•agreed to the recommendation of the Operations and Facilities executive committee that mayor and council be authorized to execute the lease agreements with Bearskin Lake Air Service LP for counter and storage space within the terminal building;
•agreed to the recommendation of the Planning and Development executive committee to direct administration to continue to work with the Age Friendly Committee on the feasibility of its request for a safe drop-off/pick-up location for adults, and work with the Age Friendly Committee to promote the Accessible Parking Permit Program to residents; and
•approved a per diem claim, in the amount of $240, as submitted by Coun. Wendy Brunetta for her attendance at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association executive meeting held Feb. 5-6 in Thunder Bay.
