Family and Children Services here is planning to move from its current address at 450 Scott St. to a renovated space in the westernmost portion of the old Fort Frances High School on First Street East in the new year.
“Our board has accepted a recommendation from our building committee,” Vic Nowak, executive director of FACS, said yesterday, adding he’s hopeful a formal agreement will be drawn up and signed very soon.
Nowak couldn’t say exactly when FACS expects to open its doors at the new location.
“That’s still part of the discussions at this time, but it’ll definitely be in the next year,” he remarked.
FACS has been at its current location for more than 20 years, and Nowak noted the decision not to sign another lease there was by no means a quick one.
“The building committee was struck about a year ago. The purpose of it was to examine all the alternatives and see what would be the best thing for us to do,” he said, noting the nine-member committee consisted of FACS board members, staff, and management.
At this point, Nowak cannot say exactly how much moving to old Fort High—as compared to another location or staying at its current site—would end up costing FACS due to the myriad of variables involved (property taxes, cost of utilities, etc.).
But he did say cost was considered.
“And it was determined it [old Fort High] was the best value for our money,” Nowak said.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
