Staff
Doug Kitowski is the new face on town council.
The owner/operator of Doug Kitowski Trucking was sworn in by Mayor Roy Avis at yesterday evening’s regular meeting of council.
Kitowski said he is looking forward to being an active member of council and do what’s best for the community, although he admits the learning curve will be steep over the next six months or so.
Council had conducted interviews with four applicants earlier yesterday. The applicants included Kitowksi, Arlene Georgeson, Joe Galbraith and Ed Haglund.
They then made their decision and publicly announced the successful applicant at yesterday evening’s meeting.
Huffman School
Council also received a presentation from Allan T. Bedard, chair of the Fort Frances Seniors Advisory Committee, recommending council not demolish Huffman School and turn the property into housing lots, but instead permit Sister Kennedy Centre to use the vacant school as a second site for seniors’ activities in Fort Frances.
Citing a report prepared by the advisory committee, Bedard explained that the town identified in its strategic plan that Sister Kennedy Centre should become a hub of activities for local seniors.
While it would be ideal to build an addition onto the centre to provide space for these activities, it would be too costly at this time, especially considering the bottom has fallen out of the tax base of Fort Frances, he said.
Therefore, the best way to provide a short-term location for senior’s activities is utilize the vacant Huffman School. Not only is it of no cost to the taxpayer, but the town would not have to spend $1.4 million to demolish the school this year. The site could actually generate revenue.
Funds to re-open the building could be drawn from the Sister Kennedy Centre reserves. The new centre also would be eligible for various grants, reasoned Bedard.
“It’s a win-win situation,” he noted.
Council received the report for further consideration.
Also at yesterday evening’s meeting, council:
•awarded the contract for the provision of fire protection and prevention services, as set out in RFP 13-PD-02, to Sunset Protection Systems;
•received a report re: Fort Frances Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation Board membership. Board members affirmed for 2013 include Nick Wihnan, Bill Krukoski, Gord McBride, Couns. Andrew Hallikas and John Albanese, Mark McCaig and Faye Flatt;
•agreed to proclaim May 29, 2013 as “Day of the Honey Bee” in the Town of Fort Frances; and
•received correspondence from Prime Minister Stephen Harper proclaiming International Peaceful Borders Day on July 2, 2013.
