Duane Hicks
Sunny Cove Camp could get some money for upgrades in the future after town council agreed Monday night to submit an application to the Recreation Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Fort Frances.
In a written report from Community Services manager George Bell, he indicated the federal-provincial program could provide two-thirds of the funding for facility upgrades that would address issues of building code, fire code, energy-efficiency, and water and sewer services that have been identified at the camp.
This funding would be for work to be done in the 2010 construction year.
While the town has had discussions with the local Kiwanis over the past year or so regarding the state of the camp, Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig said this application doesn’t mean the town has become a partner with the Kiwanis in regards to the ownership or operation of Sunny Cove.
“We’re still working through all the exploration of any kind of relationship we may or may not have with the Kiwanis Club regarding Sunny Cove Camp,” he noted. “But I don’t think that preempts our ability to submit an application to see if we would be successful in garnering the funding.”
In response to a couple of questions from council, McCaig also said the application does not preclude the town from applying to the RInC for funds for new tennis courts, noting there’s nothing in the funding program criteria that says the town can’t make more than one application.
In other news, with Coun. Sharon Tibbs expected to be away for four-six weeks on medical leave, Coun. John Albanese was appointed as interim deputy mayor Monday night.
Mayor Roy Avis suggested that in a case like this, the current chair of the committee of the whole should take up the mantel, which happens to be Coun. Albanese at the moment.
Council also approved a report to award the results of a request for proposal for food service at the Memorial Sports Centre to Carol Barrell.
Bell was directed to prepare a three-year agreement, with an option clause for an additional two years with the mutual consent of both parties.
The town will continue to get 12 percent of total sales.
Barrell has run the arena canteen for the past 10 years.
A bylaw will be prepared for final approval at a future council meeting.
Also at Monday night’s meeting, council authorized the issuance of a certificate of final acceptance and assumption of works at 1022 Patcin Ave. (Dianne and Ken Faragher).
Council also authorized the cancellation and release in full of letters of credit held as security for this development, and authorized the preparation of a bylaw to assume and accept the public works and services located in and on the northerly property of Patcin Avenue for municipal purposes.
Meanwhile, council denied a request from the Ontario Realty Corp. for designated parking for courthouse use only along Church Street in front of the courthouse.
This was on the grounds that there are several other businesses and churches which regularly need and use parking on that street, there is sufficient parking within walking distance of the courthouse, and it would difficult to enforce since bylaw staff would not know the purpose of a vehicle parked there.
Also Monday night, council:
•approved a report to ensure that hourly rental rates for equipment and vehicles are in place for a three-year period until May 14, 2012;
•accepted the April, 2009 monthly drinking water report;
•authorized the annual renewal of group benefits with Sun Life and Maritime Life;
•agreed to a recommendation to approve a financial contribution to the Fort Frances High School “chem-free” grad committee in the amount of $865.25 as a council public relations expense (this is to offset arena and auditorium rental fees);
•approved Accounting for Tangible Capital Assets Policy No. 1.18;
•approved the 2009 capping parameters for revenue neutral within each class, with a 10 percent increase of annualized tax limit based on last year’s taxes for commercial, industrial, and multi-residential property classes, and that the minimum tax level of 100 percent for new construction to capped property classes be maintained (a bylaw will be prepared for final approval at a future council meeting);
•approved a per diem claim for Mayor Roy Avis in the amount of $281.65 (this was for attendance at a meeting with Rainy River First Nations on April 9 and Premier Dalton McGuinty in Kenora on May 15); and
•approved travel expense and per diem claims for Coun. John Albanese, Coun. Ken Perry, and Coun. Paul Ryan in the amount of $638.24, $725.13, and $631.75, respectively, for attendance at the Northern Networks Trade Conference in Duluth, Mn. on May 12-14.
