The fate of a feasibility study for the “Re-Inventing Fort Frances” committee is on the line Monday night as council is expected to announce whether it will provide $50,000 to help pay for it.
Susan Bodnarchuk, a member of the “Re-Inventing” committee, said the group is keeping their fingers crossed.
“Without that funding, we won’t get support from the other levels [federal and provincial],” she noted. “They [the town] have to come through with their support.”
Bodnarchuk added time was of the essence when it comes to landing the $150,000—including the $50,000 requested from the town—needed for the feasibility study.
“I was just listening to the radio this morning and they’re talking about having $9 million for infrastructure projects in the [federal] budget.
“And [the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund] also announced some funding a little while ago,” she said.
“Everybody’s got money out there. We just have to get in on it as soon as possible,” Bodnarchuk stressed.
The committee made its request for town financial support at council’s last meeting Nov. 26, at which time councillors referred the matter to the administration and finance committee.
In the meantime, Bodnarchuk noted there’s been a good response from the community to the “Re-Inventing” initiative.
People are using a suggestion box at the Rainy Lake Hotel, she said, as well as responding to the Times’ Web site poll Nov. 28-Dec. 5 which asked, “Should the town contribute $50,000 to the ‘Re-Iventing Fort Frances’ group?”
Despite some technical problems, which saw the site “down” for much of last Tuesday, the poll was the most successful ever in terms of number of responses (302).
Some 65.6 percent voted in favour of town funding while 34.4 percent were against.
Other business at Monday night’s council meeting will include:
• finalizing of a 911 answer service for communities west of Fort Frances;
•the quarterly waterworks report;
•a verbal update as to the status of roadway changes with respect to the new Canada Customs and Immigration facility;
•a break open ticket licence application from the La Verendrye hospital auxiliary;
•a request for the waiving of calendar parking around St. Michael’s School for certain dates in the 2001-02 school year;
•five bylaws up for approval, including one to declare certain lands in town a public thoroughfare and to formally name such thoroughfare (Veteran Avenue);
•discussion of day care fee structure; and
•a report on 2001 water treatment plant capital carryover to 2002.
The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Civic Centre, with the committee of the whole meeting first downstairs at 5:30.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
