Council to discuss recycling proposal

Town council will look at a proposal from the City of Dryden regarding its takeover of recycling duties from the Northwest Ontario Recycle Association at Monday night’s regular meeting.
Operations and Facilities manager Pat Hickerson said Monday morning the issue is one the town has looked at ever since NORA’s future became more and more uncertain earlier this year.
“We’ve certainly discussed the potential options. But the truth is, there’s not a lot of alternatives out there,” he remarked.
“Before we put a lot of work into looking further into this matter, we have to look at this proposal,” added Hickerson. “On the surface, it looks reasonable, price-wise.
“We couldn’t do it for any less on our own—it would possibly cost more.”
The new recycling program is aiming to serve only Dryden, Fort Frances, Sioux Lookout, and Atikokan. But first, these municipalities must agree to get on board before June 1.
The Dryden-based service, which would be fully operational by early July, would be provided on a contract basis, the conditions of which include:
•full cost recovery for each community;
•a five-year commitment;
•prorated sharing of revenue based on material delivered;
•agreement on what material will be accepted;
•promotion being the responsibility of each community; and
•a local contact in each community for inquiries.
The actual unit cost of processing will depend in part on volume. Dryden has estimated it to be $225 per tonne of accepted recyclables.
This cost of processing will be the same for all communities served. But the cost of collection will be different for each one, based on the distance from the plant in Dryden.
Dryden has estimated the cost of collection and transportation to the plant to be $31,227 annually for Fort Frances.
Other business on the agenda Monday night includes:
•a report on the Fort Frances Fire Department response to the municipal landfill;
•a response from Abitibi-Consolidated regarding the traffic flow at the new Canada Customs and Immigration Facility here;
•a request from St. Mary’s Catholic Women’s League regarding the purchase and placement of a bench along the waterfront to mark its 50th anniversary celebrations;
•a police services activity update from OPP S/Sgt. Hugh Dennis;
•a presentation by Fort Frances Power Corp. CEO Mark McCaig regarding the new energy bills;
•a computer acquisition update;
•the Fort Frances Children’s Complex employee policy;
•Ministry of Northern Development and Mines summer jobs service applications;
•a report on ski trail maintenance;
•a request from Robert Moore School to move a bus loading zone;
•signage between the 700 block of Second Street East and First Street East;
•an item concerning laneway drainage behind the Fort Frances Times;
•a request from the Sister Kennedy Centre regarding a waiver of calendar parking during the District 1-A Senior Games here next month;
•a financial contribution request from the local Business Women’s Network; and
•a request from the Fort Frances Radio Control Flying Club to use the municipal airport.
Tonight’s meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Civic Centre, with the committee of the whole to meet first downstairs at 5:30.