Always looking to boost business in Fort Frances, the municipal Economic Development Advisory Committee wants to add the Twin Beech aircraft at Rusty Myers to the list of tourist attractions here.
“It’s an idea that’s been kicking around for four or five years,” noted EDAC member Bruce Caldwell. “But it came before us again recently and we decided to go ahead.
“Baudette has its walleye, Red Lake has its Norseman and now they have a festival named after it—we could use something,” he reasoned.
Caldwell noted there have been talks with Rusty Myers, and there’s a “good possibility” they can strike a deal to buy the Twin Beech and move it.
“Where we’re going to put it, I don’t know,” he remarked, adding the waterfront or the airport are likely locations.
Caldwell—a self-professed plane-lover and organizer of such events as the annual fly-in barbecue here—noted acquiring the plane also would be a way to promote some local aerial history.
“At one time, Rusty Myers had more Twin Beeches than anyone in Canada,” he said, adding the tourist attraction most likely would feature a plaque acknowledging the flying service’s past.
The suggestion was referred Monday night to the Administration and Finance executive committee for a recommendation. Their input will come back to council at a future meeting.
“I realize it’s not going to happen overnight, but we’re on the right track,” said Caldwell.
Also at Monday night’s regular council meeting, which was completed in about an hour, Community Services manager George Bell was directed to pursue the possibility of a partnership arrangement with Rainy Lake Sports and Tackle and other affected businesses in the future dock development on the adjacent riverfront area.
Meanwhile, council agreed to enter into a 90-day agreement with Asselin Transportation and Storage Ltd. for garbage collection services using a five-day cycle method.
While a report from Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown initially suggested a one-year contract, the current “lame duck” council was not authorized to pass a resolution involving funds exceeding $50,000.
A long-term contract will come before the newly-elected council in the months ahead.
In other news, council:
•agreed to change the date of the next meeting of council from Nov. 10 to Nov. 17, due to the municipal election;
•agreed to donate $200 to the Royal Canadian Legion for its annual “Poppy Campaign” upon recommendation of the Administration and Finance executive committee;
•declined to donate to the fifth-annual “Scott Street Scare”;
•awarded Tender #03-AF-30 for $10,099 to Heikki Lampi Sand and Gravel, and authorized the necessary bylaw be brought forward to finalize the matter;
•approved a report from the Administration and Finance executive committee that recommends long-service (25 years) and retiring town employees remain within the scope of the annual appreciation, recognition, retiree, and long-service dinner (as opposed to the annual staff Christmas party), and that significant sponsors of centennial celebration events also be recognized at this year’s appreciation dinner;
•agreed to support the petitioning of the Ministry of Public Safety and Security to fully fund the Northwestern Campus of the Ontario Fire College;
•accepted the September, 2003 Drinking Water Systems monthly summary report, and approved the new monthly internal reporting procedure for the town’s drinking water so that council can fulfill its managerial role as it relates to the Standard of Care section of the Safe Drinking Water Act; and
•approved a report indicating a retaining wall will be installed at 561 Webster Ave. but not 560 Webster Ave. (this matter previously was under review as part of 2000 Connecting Link capital project).
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
