Fort Frances Mayor June Caul opened up last night’s council meeting by acknowledging the recent tragedy in Nova Scotia.
“On behalf of town council, staff and our community, I would like to extend my profound sympathy to the residents of Nova Scotia, who are suffering through the despicable tragedy that happened last week,” she said.
“I think all Canadians have been shocked and affected in some way by this terrible situation, and we mourn with the family and friends of all victims.”
The incident the mayor was referring to was the mass shooting which occurred in several small municipalities in the province from April 18-19 which took the lives of 22 people, including RCMP Const. Heidi Stevenson. Flags around town had been lowered last week in solidarity.
At last night’s council meeting the town also received a report from the Operations and Facilities Executive Committee that detailed the changes to operations brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and emergency declaration. Part of that document revealed that due to restrictions around physical distancing, and because the town will not be hiring or recalling summer students leading to a reduced seasonal workforce, the committee was recommending that the town not plant flowers and instead distribute the flowers to the public.
Following some concerns voiced by members of council regarding the flowers and the possibility of a negative impact on local greenhouses, council agreed to pull the report and send it back to the committee to review.
The town completes its tender for flowers in the fall of the proceeding year, and this year a total of roughly 64-thousand flowers were purchased for nearly $22,000 to be used in cemeteries and other plots and beds around town.
Operations and Facilities Manager Travis Rob also provided an update to council regarding capital projects that are scheduled to take place in and around town, including the reconstruction of Scott Street and Colonization Road West.
“Under the COVID emergency, road construction has been considered an essential service,” Rob said.
“We are working with our various contractors to set out appropriate social distancing measures, just to make sure that we are maintaining the health and safety of our workers, their workers, our onsite inspectors and of course the general public.”
Work began on the Scott St. project yesterday, and Rob noted that construction on the Colonization Rd. W. project will get underway in late May, according to the contractor.
Additionally, the town is currently looking for a contractor to widen Kings Highway from Pit Road 1 to Pit Road 2 in the town’s west end, with the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario expected to award the funding for that project to the town in the coming days.
In other news, the town also voted to proclaim May 3 – 9, 2020 as Emergency Preparedness Week in the Town of Fort Frances.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
- approved the March 2020 Drinking Water Systems Monthly Summary Report
- approved a bylaw to amend by-law 54/18 to establish a Municipal Accommodation Tax
- approved a bylaw to approve an agreement with the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) for funding for redevelopment plans related to Shevlin Woodyard and the Nursing Station.
