Duane Hicks
At the request of Coun. Ken Perry, town council has sent Private Crossings Bylaw No. 32/82 to the Operations and Facilities executive committee for its review and recommendation.
In a written request, Coun. Perry said the issue of private contractors installing private rail crossings arises during most developments in town.
“It is a bylaw that the work is to be completed by Public Works, yet at times private developers are allowed to install their own,” he noted during Monday night’s council meeting.
“At other times, the town forces are too busy and the installation is left up to the private sector.
“I believe that the bylaw should be amended or at last discussed,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Fort Frances property owners can expect tax bills in the mail in coming weeks after council agreed Monday night to institute an interim levy.
Just like in previous years, the interim levy is equal to about half of the total amount of taxes property owners paid in 2008.
Interim tax levies are a means to secure revenue to keep operating while council determines the final tax rates for 2009 in the budget.
Implementing interim tax levies is common practice each January. It is permissible under the Municipal Act, 2001.
Interim tax bills are being worked on now and will be sent out shortly. Fifty percent of the levy shall become due and payable by Feb. 27, with the balance due by March 31 (the last working day in that month).
As is normal procedure before the budget is done, council also passed a bylaw Monday night to authorize temporary borrowing, as required, until revenues are collected.
And just like last year, the agreement for 2009 is with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce to borrow sums not to exceed $4 million.
Also at Monday night’s meeting, council:
•awarded tenders for a three-year supply and delivery of various types of granular materials to Tom Veert Contracting Ltd., George Armstrong Co. Ltd., and Dennis Robinson Ltd.;
•authorized the clerk and mayor to execute an NOHFC agreement for a $6 wage subsidy per co-op student for the 2009 summer work season;
•approved an increase to aviation fuel prices at the Fort Frances Airport (the new pump prices, effective Jan. 13, are set at $1.43 per litre for 100LL while Jet A-1 will be $1.34/litre);
•agreed to change the date of the special committee of the whole budget meeting from Feb. 16 to Feb. 17 due to Family Day;
•agreed to change the dates of the Oct. 12 council meeting to Oct. 13 due to Thanksgiving, and the one Dec. 28 to Dec. 21 due to Christmas holidays;
•passed a bylaw to authorize the execution of a letter of understanding with CUPE pertaining to the observance of Family Day on Feb. 16, 2009; and
•appointed Coun. Hallikas to the Fort Frances Professional Fire Fighters Association negotiating committee for a term ending Nov. 30, 2010 in place of Mayor Roy Avis (Mayor Avis will remain an ex-officio member of that committee).
