Peggy Revell
Work on the Portage Avenue underpass project has resumed, meaning residents will be facing road closures over the coming weeks, explained Operations and Facilities Manager, Doug Brown at Monday evening’s regular council meeting.
“Traffic lights are up and running. There’s temporary rubber barriers where concrete barriers will be put in on Third and Fifth at both of the east and west end of Portage like last year,” Brown noted.
“This week Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Portage Avenue between Third and Fifth will be closed to the public from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.,” he explained, adding that emergency vehicles will still be able to get through there. Friday the underpass will be closed only until 4 p.m., and it also won’t be closed on Saturday, he noted, but will possibly be closed on Sunday.
As for the future schedule of when the public will be able to utilize the underpass, Brown stated that every Friday he will be giving an update on the upcoming week’s schedule through the media.
“Just on the long term, we’re pretty confident that this year we’re going to be done the job,” Brown added. “The big stuff’s done.”
Meanwhile, the biomass road project continues to move along, Brown reported, with water mains now installed all along Victoria Avenue from Front Street to Nelson Street, as well as along Nelson Street from Portage to Victoria, and the project is starting to move up Portage Avenue.
The next step of the project will affect traffic along Portage Avenue and Church Street, Brown noted, and concrete work on the first stage will start on Monday.
“Basically the next stage is we’re going from just south of the fire hall all the way up to the Voyageur Hotel,” Brown said, adding that there will be a time when the intersection of Scott Street will be closed, but when that time is approaching the public and BIA will be notified in advance.
On a side note, the construction project on Scott Street from Reid Avenue to Colonization Road East is no longer a go, Brown noted, since the town learned on July 2 that the Ministry of Transportation didn’t approve funding for the project.
Tower and Hallett
And with Phase II of the local Heritage Tourism Project in full swing, Community Services Manager, George Bell also gave a verbal update to council about the project’s progress.
Both the piling has been completed and all the foundational work poured at the new location of the lookout tower, Bell noted, and the contractor has also proceeded with driving the piles for the Hallett—a process that has meant that both the walking and bike path in that area has been blocked off temporarily.
“They’ve also poured all the concrete for the cradle that’s going to hold the Hallett in place on the piles. They’ve done the front part of that. They just need to do the back part of that,” he added.
While the contractors haven’t completed the pressure washing of the tower in accordance to the schedule, the progress with the pile driving and concrete means that “all in all, they’re kind of ahead of schedule,” Bell stated. “So things are going well there.”
As for the new banners and signage to go along with the relocation, initial designs have been drawn up and have gone out to the local artists, Bell said, with an approximate finish date by the end of August—although the actual printing and hanging of the banners may be delayed until the spring of next year.
As for the future library and technology centre, Bell informed council that the pre-construction meeting was held on June 25, where they went through any issues with the contract and the list of alternative pricing for changes.
“We are proceeding with the rubber roofing, the blue lamps, and some of the other cost savings that we think are better for the project,” Bell noted, “But they are not included in the contract. We are treating them as change-orders and the architect and contractor are now working out the process for approving the change-orders.”
Actual site work began on July 6, Bell stated, with the removal of topsoil, laying of lines for establishing foundation, and excavation work.
Fences and hedges
Following the council’s decision at their last meeting to uphold and enforce the fencing bylaw, Chief Building Official Rick Hallam updated the council on the progress the town is making on this front.
“It needs to be said that since we did advertise—and this is the third week that it has been in the local media,—we have received a lot of positive reaction from the residents of Fort Frances,” Hallam told council. “They’ve been more than forthcoming in seeking advice and seeking direction, seeking information, picking up copies of the by-law and if you drive around town, I think you’ll find it evident that there are a lot of people who are doing what we consider to be voluntary compliance.”
Hallam noted that members of the bylaw enforcement department have also been out on the streets of Fort Frances, compiling lists of residences that will need to be contacted over complying with the by-law.
While Hallam noted that the issue is sensitive in nature, with some hedges and fences being in place for many years, he stressed that compliance with the bylaw is important to ensure safe passage of traffic and for pedestrians, particularly those located on corner lots.
“We fully expect that there’s going to be some opposition,” he said. “I would respectfully seek that when we do speak to people that they understand that this is for the betterment and the good of all residents in Fort Frances.”
“Hopefully we can gain the voluntary compliance and that the residents of Fort Frances can embrace this initiative.,” Hallam stated. “I want them to respect the fact that it is for the good of all, and the members of the bylaw enforcement will be as sensitive as they can, but please understand that they do have a job to do, and we have a bylaw that must be adhered to.”
Other business council included:
•chosing to keep the donation fee for a dedicated bench along the waterfront property at its current amount [$1,600];
•approving the report on the renewal of the land lease agreement at the airport, meaning the existing lease will be renewed for an additional five years;
•approving fuel prices at the airport, which effective July 14 are set at $1.65/liter for 100LL and $1.35 per litre for jet A-1 (including GST);
•approving a recommendation from the Administration and Finance Executive Committee, with input from the Community Services Executive Committee to not support the “Buy Ontario, Buy Canada, Build Communities” resolution put forward by the Ontario Federation of Labour during their June 8 presentation to council;
•approving the recommendation that proceeds from the annual police auction ($2,701.14) will be donated to the Community Policing Committee for the DARE program;
•approving the publishing of the 2008 Municipal Performance Measurement Program results online at the town’s website;
•approving the applications for tax adjustment at SM 119 Lots 58-70, Part Streets and Lanes, Part River Parcel 37-2;
•referring a request from the Rainy River Valley Safety Coalition re: placement of benches to promote safety to the Operations and Facilities Executive Committee for recommendation;
•referring a request from the Northwestern Health Unit re: use of Memorial Sports Centre for a free community ’flu shot clinic on Oct. 27 to the Community Services Executive Committee for recommendation;
•approving a bylaw to approve a contract awarded to Dutka Signs for directional and interpretive signage for the Heritage Tourism Project;
•approving a bylaw to deem Lots 22 and the S 1/2 of Lot 23 on Plan SM-55;
•approving of a bylaw to appoint BDO Dunwoody LLP as municipal auditor for a two-year term from Jan. 1, 2009-Dec. 31, 2010;
•approving a bylaw to deem Lots 160-161 on Plan SM-50;
•approving a bylaw to authorize agreements with Wilson’s Business Solutions to lease and service photocopiers at the museum, Children’s Complex, and Memorial Sports Centre;
•approving a bylaw to approve an agreement with Aurora Construction Ltd. of Thunder Bay for construction of a new public library and technology centre;
•approving a bylaw to designate a site plan control area and authorize entering into a site plan agreement as a condition of development of the new Robert Moore School;
•approving a bylaw to approve an agreement with the Minister of Transportation for financing under the Dedicated Gas Tax Funds for Public Transportation Program; and
•declining a request from the Fort Frances Folk Festival to apply dust suppressant on the road to Little Beaver Snow Park.
