Duane Hicks
Committee
being struck
Council approved a report Monday night confirming the town will partner with the Fort Frances Kiwanis Club to develop an off-leash dog park in the near future.
A committee will be struck to select a site, as well as design and develop it.
The ad hoc steering committee will consist of two members of council (Couns. Andrew Hallikas and Ken Perry), two Kiwanis Club members, one bylaw officer, Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown, and two members of the public (these last two spots will be advertised by the town).
Terms of reference for the off-leash dog park will be developed at the committee’s first meeting and forwarded to council for approval.
The report, which was part of a Parks operational review, also noted that during the time when annual flowers are being planted, all Public Works summer students will provide assistance to the Parks department to ensure routine maintenance occurs in the community.
It also mentioned the town will look into the possibility of “paylocks” on public washroom doors in the future, where users have to pay to use the bathrooms after regular operating hours.
This measure is being considered in hopes of deterring the vandalism and misuse currently taking place in the town’s washrooms.
It will be a capital budget consideration in 2013.
In other news, council agreed Monday night to contract DeGagne Construction to replace the Townshend Theatre stage floor for $21,131 (to be paid from the theatre reserves).
As well, the Townshend Theatre user surtax, which has not been raised since the theatre first opened in 1999, will be increased from $1 to $1.50, effective Sept. 1.
It will not be applied to “Tour de Fort” passport sales for the 2012-13 season.
The surtax is used for theatre improvements.
Also at Monday’s meeting, council:
•appointed Marnie Cumming to the Fort Frances Public Library Board for a term ending Nov. 30, 2014;
•appointed Joe Kneisz and Angela Petsnick to the Fort Frances Sustainability Strategy Steering Committee for a term ending Nov. 30, 2014;
•appointed Couns. Ken Perry and Sharon Tibbs to the Kiwanis Sunny Cove Camp Advisory Committee for a term ending Nov. 30, 2012;
•awarded Tender No. 12-OF-04 (supply of one half-ton, two-wheel drive, four-door truck) to West End Motors at a total cost of $29,380 (taxes incl.);
•authorized a $650 contribution to the Rainy River Vet Assistance Trust Fund;
•agreed that the photocopy rate for the Rainy River District Municipal Association (RRDMA) be a flat rate of 10 cents per black-and-white copy, if supplying their own paper, and if copying is done after-hours, and further, that the previous invoice be amended to reflect the new rates;
•received a proposal for development on Frog Creek Road;
•approved NOMA conference travel and per diem claims for Mayor Roy Avis ($778.02) and Couns. John Albanese ($819.85), Andrew Hallikas ($917.64), Ken Perry ($853.96), Paul Ryan ($713.96), and Rick Wiedenhoeft ($713.96);
•approved a per diem claim for Coun. Sharon Tibbs, in the amount of $75, for attendance at the RRDMA meeting April 18 in Alberton; and
•awarded the tender for the Civic Centre roof retrofit to the low tenderer, Racco Industrial Roofing, at a cost of $256,046.48 and retained the services of Myron Edwards Consulting Services to provide project supervision and oversight ($9,000).
