Council to hold hearing on tax reductions tonight

The first item on the agenda for tonight’s regular council meeting is a public hearing regarding tax adjustments for local properties.
A total of eight applications have been made to the town since January, 2003 for reductions in property assessments.
The rationale for these reductions is the property assessments don’t reflect the fact buildings, dwellings, and garages on the properties have been demolished, or, in one case, lost to a fire.
This meeting, which starts at 7 p.m., is a chance for the affected property owners to make their cases.
The applications are for properties at 535 Webster Ave., 941 McKenzie Ave., 615 Second St. E. (two), 305 Pit Rd., 1114 Nelson Ave., and 1117 First St. E. (two).
The rest of the council meeting only is scheduled to run until 7:20 p.m.
The committee of the whole will meet first at 5:30 p.m. downstairs at the Civic Centre. It is expected to be in-camera until 6:15, at which time the meeting will move upstairs for the pubic portion of that meeting.
A “Connecting Link” construction bylaw also will be discussed tonight.
This bylaw is a proposal—complete with estimated costs—to the Ministry of Transportation regarding the reconstruction of Central Avenue from Third Street West to Church Street and Scott Street from Central Avenue to Mowat.
This is at an estimated cost of $40,000 to be shared between the municipality and the province.
Other business at tonight’s meetings will include:
•a report on Tender No. 04-OF-06 (Garbage and Recyclables Collection Contract);
•a report from Clerk Glenn Treftlin regarding solemnizing marriages;
•a bylaw to amend the current water meter bylaw (By-Law No. 7/89) in accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001, that it provides for a penalty for failing to install a water meter where required under said bylaw; and
•a request from Lee Stones of Regional Elder Abuse Consulting North West to proclaim Tuesday, Oct. 19 as “Elder Abuse Awareness Day” in the Town of Fort Frances.