The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an impact on day-to-day operations in the Town of Fort Frances.
At tonight’s town council meeting, council will be receiving a report from Operations and Facilities manager Travis Rob that will recommend an operational plan for several town departments through to July 1. The report covers Parks and Cemeteries, Public Works, the Fort Frances Municipal Airport, Facilities and other Capital works.
Part of the recommendations made in the report is that parks and public works student labourer recalls and new hiring be delayed indefinitely. The seasonal crews at both departments will continue to work, with parks employees focusing on winter clean up of Town spaces and transitioning to grass cutting and public works employees continuing to work on roadways and sidewalks, focusing on compliance with Minimum Maintenance Standards.
One complication due to this reduced workforce, as well as physical distancing measures that would need to be followed, is that flowers would not be able to be planted at either of the cemeteries in town. Rob notes in the report that the Town has already committed to purchasing almost $22,000 worth of flowers, as the tender for flowers is issued in the fall of the previous year. However, Rob makes the recommendation that the Town instead offer the flowers to the public at no cost, with those who do have perpetual care agreements given the first chance at the flowers. A contactless pick-up of the flowers would be arranged.
The Parks workers will continue to monitor signage and caution tape around closed play surfaces, and the beach area at the Point will be fenced off if physical distancing measures are still in place when the ice goes out. Public Works crews will continue to do concrete work, grass cutting and sweeping as usual.
Other items listed in the report detail that while traffic and revenue is down at the airport, staff are on site to maintain the airfield to Transpot Canada Guidelines, as well as to provide refueling to essential aircraft. as well, extensive cleaning and repair work is taking place in closed town facilities.
Finally, the report notes that roadway construction projects are considered essential and thus will continue as scheduled, with contractors working in the Town required to submit COVID policies for review prior to starting work.
Approval of the report by council will sign off on the operational changes in response to COVID-19, as well as agree that the flowers ordered for the cemeteries be distributed at no cost to Fort Frances residents.
Also on tonight’s agenda is a request from Fort Frances Fire & Rescue Services chief Tyler Moffitt for council to declare the week of May 3 – 9 as Emergency Preparedness Week in Fort Frances. This year’s theme is “Emergencies can happen anytime. Are You Ready?”
Tonight’s regular council meeting will follow the committee of the whole meeting, which gets underway at 5:30 p.m. Go to the town’s website for a link to the Microsoft Teams meeting.
According to the agenda, the public portion of the meeting will be followed by three in-camera items.
- The first item is regarding advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose: Property Matter
- The second item is regarding personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees: Service Implications
- The final item is about a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board: Inquiry to Purchase
Other business on the agenda tonight includes:
- a report re: March 2020 Drinking Water Systems Monthly Summary
- a bylaw to amend by-law 54/18 to establish a Municipal Accommodation Tax
- a bylaw to approve an agreement with the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) for funding for redevelopment plans related to Shevlin Woodyard and the Nursing Station.
