Council to get report on financial incentives

By Duane Hicks,
Staff writer
Economic development officer Geoff Gillon is expected to deliver to town council a draft copy of a report outlining proposed financial incentive programs at tonight’s regular meeting at the Civic Centre.
Along with other recommendations, the report offers a retooling of programs outlined in the town’s Community Incentive Plan (CIP) created back in 2003.
That plan set out several goals for development within Fort Frances, and proposed several incentive programs to encourage that development, Gillon noted in his report.
Over the years, the town used these incentives “prudently to support redevelopment, community social services stabilization, and capital investment by the community’s main employer,” the report added.
But it also said the programs listed in the CIP “are just options for the various ways that financial transfers could occur,” and that other avenues could be pursued.
The report goes on to make recommendations to the town, as well as outline a handful of enhanced financial incentive programs.
The committee of the whole will meet first downstairs at 5:30 p.m. but is expected to be in-camera until 5:45. Council is scheduled to meet upstairs at 6:15.
Other business at tonight’s meeting will include:
•a police activity report from OPP Sgt. Steve Shouldice;
•a verbal report regarding local construction projects;
•an invitation from Riverside Foundation for Health Care to purchase tickets for Oktoberfest, 2008;
•a request from the Northwestern Health Unit regarding use of the Memorial Sports Centre auditorium without charge for a free community ’flu clinic;
•an offer to purchase a town-owned lot from Ed and Rosemary Haglund;
•a bylaw to approve an agreement with district municipalities for the provision of fire services;
•a bylaw to approve an agreement with Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board for child care services;
•a bylaw to approve an extension to a contract for operation of the municipal landfill;
•a memo from Atikokan Mayor Dennis Brown re an update on the Mining Act; and
•a request from 1578289 Ontario Ltd. re an amendment to a development agreement.