Hospital route to stay the same

Council approved a report last night ensuring that signage marking the existing hospital route will remain the same for at least the next four years.
Upon direction from the Operations and Facilities executive committee, the town’s Traffic Safety Committee was asked to consider revising the route, for traffic in the east end of the town, from Scott Street to Front Street via Colonization Road East.
But after reviewing the proposed route change, the Traffic Safety Committee decided to stick with the current route for two reasons:
•The proposed route would be affected annually by the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship, which closes Front Street for about 14 days each July; and
•With the reconstruction of Central Avenue and the underpass this year, and construction plans for a truck route over the next two to three years, Scott Street will be the least congested street for traffic to get to the hospital.
Additionally, Scott Street receives a higher level of winter control maintenance compared to Front Street, noted Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown in a report to council.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•referred a request from the “Fun in the Sun” committee for funding for July 1 activities to the Administration and Finance executive committee for recommendation;
•referred a letter from concerned citizens regarding a handicapped parking spot in front of 336 Scott St. to the Planning and Development executive committee for recommendation;
•agreed to a request from the Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research to proclaim Sept. 16, 2007 as “Terry Fox Day” in Fort Frances;
•agreed to a request from M&M Meat Shops to proclaim Sept. 20, 2007 as “National Family Dinner Night” in Fort Frances;
•referred a letter from Dennis Robinson regarding tipping fee rates at the landfill site to the Operations and Facilities executive committee for recommendation;
•agreed to support a resolution from the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry regarding the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund;
•referred a letter from Mark Fontana regarding dockage on the riverfront to the Community Services executive committee for recommendation;
•agreed to change the date of the Sept. 24 regular council meeting to Sept. 17 instead. This is so administrative staff can attend training; and
•passed a bylaw to authorize an agreement for the provision of a public transportation system for the physically disabled within the Town of Fort Frances.