Council set to finalize deal on clinic

    Town council will vote tonight to approve the terms of an agreement to provide financing to the Fort Frances Community Clinic Inc., finalizing a deal that’s now been years in the making.
    The bylaw went through its first reading at the July 9 council meeting. This will be its second and final reading before the agreement becomes law forthwith.
    The agreement would mean the town would provide Fort Frances Community Clinic Inc. with a $1 million loan, to be paid back over 15 years at zero percent interest.
    If the agreement goes through, it would turn the currently private clinic into a community-owned one run by the not-for-profit organization.
    The $1 million would cover the shares of the Fort Frances Clinic holdings and assorted start-up costs.
    Along with the financing agreement bylaw, council will vote tonight on a related bylaw to approve an agreement with Fort Frances Community Clinic Inc. for the provision of municipal capital facilities related to the provision of social and health services and parking.
    Tonight’s council meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. It will be preceded by the committee of the whole at 4 p.m., which is expected to be in-camera until 6:30.
    Other business at tonight’s council meeting will include:
    •a presentation of the town’s 2006 financial statements and management letter by accountant Jon Evans of BDO Dunwoody;
    •a bylaw to amend the Traffic Control Bylaw to provide for a prohibited parking zone adjacent to a lane entrance on the south side of the 300 block of First Street East;
    •a bylaw to establish retention periods for documents and records for the Town of Fort Frances;
    •a bylaw to approve an agreement with the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. for financing of road improvements, including the CN underpass;
    •a bylaw to authorize the purchase of property at 533 Sixth St. W. from Lyle Kellar Crane Services Ltd.; and
    •a request from the Fort Frances Lions Club to provide labour and expertise towards the construction of a walkway at the Lions Millennium Park here.