With no funds earmarked in the 2003 budget for the “Re-Inventing Fort Frances” project, the committee will make its case at tonight’s public meeting on the 2003 budget at the Civic Centre.
“In an elaborate presentation before council on Dec. 16, we demonstrated how a phased investment in infrastructure projects has the potential for producing exponential returns for the entire community,” committee chair Susan Bodnarchuk noted in the written request to make a presentation at tonight’s meeting.
“We asked: If not this, what? If not now, when?” she added. “In the absence of a budget commitment to the ‘Re-Inventing’ concept for 2003, the community deserves a response to these questions from those in positions of leadership.”
At that Dec. 16 meeting, the committee had asked that at least $80,000 be set aside in 2003 as the town’s share of a project to put a mural on the “lap” building by the border and to erect signage to direct tourist traffic—both aspects of Phase I of plans that ultimately would see a $5.5-million overhaul of Church Street.
Citing another example of projects the town shouldn’t pass up, Bodnarchuk said the “Re-Inventing” committee was contacted Dec. 24 by the Ontario Realty Corp., which has expressed a “keen desire” to explore building a new Ontario Travel Information Centre here.
“We believe that the common interests shared by the town and travel centre holds much promise, providing the town is prepared to make a meaningful investment in the ‘Re-Inventing’ concept in 2003,” she said.
“The ‘Re-Inventing’ concept is about many things,” Bodnarchuk added. “It is about reversing decline. It is about economic diversity. It is about creating jobs. It is about building community pride.
“It is about keeping hope alive. It is about investing in the community.”
Bodnarchuk will be presenting along with vice-chair Sam Woods and committee member Larry Syrovy.
The budget meeting, which will start at 7:10 p.m., will be preceded by a public meeting regarding a bylaw to amend zoning bylaw 8/98 for the property at 1408 Eighth St. E.
A third public meeting regarding the passing of a bylaw to close Seventh Street from McIrvine Road to Keating Avenue will follow the budget one.
Among items on the agenda for tonight’s regular council meeting, which will follow the three special public meetings, include:
•a police activity report from OPP detachment commander S/Sgt. Hugh Dennis;
•an activities report from Geoff Gillon, development advisor for the Rainy River Future Development Corp.;
•a presentation by Coun. Struchan Gilson regarding the smoking bylaw issue;
•a presentation from Lauren Krueger of St. Francis School regarding the centennial committee’s invitation for schools to participate in the centennial celebration;
•a request from Fort Frances High School regarding a town advertisement in the 2003 yearbook;
•a request from Mark Cawston, steward of OPSEU Local 735, for support of a model resolution regarding assurance of high quality property assessment;
•a bylaw to authorize the town to borrow temporarily by way of bank overdraft;
•a bylaw to adopt the estimates of the sums required for all municipal and school purposes for 2003;
•a bylaw to authorize the execution of a proposal and the estimate of costs for the reconstruction of Scott Street designated a connecting link by Transportation minister Norm Sterling; and
•a bylaw to amend bylaw 21/94 to establish specific boards and committees of council.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
