With news two weeks ago that the town is facing a $2.8-million deficit, which could translate into a 67.5 percent tax hike for residents, council Monday night stressed that despite rumours on the street, no drastic cuts or tax increases have been decided on yet.
And to set the record straight, Coun. Tannis Drysdale brought forward a motion, which council unanimously passed, stating just that.
“Be it resolved that the council of the Town of Fort Frances is only in the preliminary stages of reviewing the options available to us to balance the 2004 budget,” read the statement.
“It should be clear that currently no position within the corporation had been deemed redundant and no town facility is scheduled for closure,” it continued.
“The council and mayor, in co-operation with our staff, will continue to work to resolve the current deficit issues.”
“I think it’s important for us to be clear about where it is we are with this process,” Coun. Drysdale said to her fellow councillors.
“I think there’s been some speculation. It is not necessary at this point in time,” she added. “And I’ve talked with other councillors, and we wanted to make it clear we’re in the very preliminary stages.”
“I’ve had some comments from the community as to what we may be doing, what they heard we were doing, what we might be doing, and I think it’s important for the council and management team and the mayor . . . to state we’re in the planning process,” echoed Coun. Todd Hamilton.
“I’d like to give the managers credit. They’ve been working very, very hard,” he added.
Acting CAO Mark McCaig noted the public can expect to see some meetings scheduled in the near future where their input will be welcomed.
In other news from Monday night’s meeting, council received the final daft of a feasibility study regarding a new versus a renovated public library here from John Stephenson, an architect with Kuch, Stephenson, Gibson, and Malo of Thunder Bay.
The report indicated a new library should be built where Alexander MacKenzie School currently stands (the school is slated for closure this fall). This would cost about $3.4 million, though this figure is only tentative.
Council referred the feasibility study to the Community Services executive committee for a recommendation.
Also Monday night, council:
•received an activities report from Geoff Gillon and Telford Advent of the Rainy River Future Development Corp. for the period covering Oct. 1, 2003-Dec. 31, 2003 (it also accepted a services invoice in the amount of $25,925.50, which was referred to treasurer Peggy Dupuis for payment);
•passed a bylaw to approve an agreement with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, through its Ontario Small Town and Rural Development (OSTAR) Infrastructure Initiative, for upgrades at the water treatment plant;
•referred a recommendation from the Economic Development Advisory Committee for discussion of a draft business retention and expansion action plan to the Administration and Finance executive committee for a recommendation, with input from all executive committees;
•referred a request from the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship Inc. for financial and in-kind support for the 2004 bass tournament here to the Administration and Finance executive committee for a recommendation, with input from all other executive committees;
•approved a request from the Canadian Cancer Society to proclaim April as “Cancer Month” in the Town of Fort Frances;
•referred a request from Leesa and Michael Schmid and Mrs. J. Wickstrom regarding renewal of a lease agreement for property located on McIrvine Road to the Planning and Development executive committee for a recommendation, with input from all other executive committees;
•referred a request from the Rainy River District School Board regarding input on its 2004-05 budget to the Administration and Finance executive committee as lead committee, with input from all other executive committees;
•referred a letter of concern from Envision North, Lorelei L. Locker, Edward Jones, and Mario Jewellers regarding installation of parking meters in downtown Fort Frances to the Planning and Development executive committee for consideration during the budget process;
•referred a request from J.B. Galway for support of a motion calling for a new assessment process providing table values to the Administration and Finance executive committee for a recommendation.
•received an invitation from Gillons’ Insurance to attend a risk management seminar at La Place Rendez-Vous on Feb. 18; and
•referred requests for support from the City of Dryden for resolutions regarding funding of disease prevention/health promotion, and re-consideration of the Northwestern Health Unit’s 2004 service per-capita levy, to the Administration and Finance executive committee for a recommendation.
(Fort Frances Daily Bulletin)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
