With the final report of a feasibility study by consultants Hilderman, Thomas, Frank and Cram being officially released Monday evening, just what will happen with the plan to “Re-Invent Fort Frances” is now in town council’s hands.
“With the final report now complete, our role as a ‘Re-Inventing’ committee has been fulfilled,” said chairwoman Susan Bodnarchuk, who will speak at tonight’s regular council meeting which starts at 6:20 p.m.
“So what we want to do now is form a new committee to determine how we’ll move forward from here,” she added.
“It’s been a very interesting time working on this, and we’ve enjoyed doing it. We don’t want to see it sit on a shelf,” Bodnarchuk stressed.
On behalf of the “Re-Inventing” committee, Bodnarchuk will make a recommendation that council agree to the appointment of a “community group” which would represent a variety of area stakeholders beyond the initial committee.
It also calls on council to hire a project co-ordinator, which would advise the town on matters relevant to implementing aspects of the “Re-Inventing” plan, and assist in developing, identifying, refining, and clarifying tasks, procedures, budgets, timetables, funding applications, and more.
This co-ordinator would be retained at a cost of $150,000, which would be funded jointly by FedNor, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp., Rainy River Future Development Corp., the Town of Fort Frances, and other partners.
The contract would be for a two-year period, ideally starting this spring, said Bodnarchuk.
The final report being presented to council tonight contains a multi-faceted plan to beautify the town, as well as promote tourism and job retention/creation, among other things.
This information was garnered from input from stakeholders such as local businesses, Canada Customs and Revenue, Abitibi-Consolidated, and the public.
Copies of the final report from HTFC will be available for viewing at the Fort Frances Public Library and the Fort Frances Museum starting tomorrow.
Consultant Jeff Frank spearheaded the work on the roughly $110,000 feasibility study back in August under a contract awarded by the town in July.
This contract was funded by grants from FedNor, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp., the Town of Fort Frances, and the Rainy River Future Development Corp.
Abitibi-Consolidated and local groups like the Business Improvement Area, Chamber of Commerce, and Business Women’s Network also contributed to the funding.
Other business at Monday night’s council meeting will include:
•a presentation entitled “The Important Thing About Fort Frances” by teacher Keira Main’s Grade 1 class from Robert Moore School;
•a request from Neegan Burnside Engineering and Environmental Ltd. on behalf of Couchiching First Nation regarding the disposal of solid waste from Couchiching at the Fort Frances municipal landfill;
•a bylaw to authorize the entering into of certain lease agreements at the Fort Frances Municipal Airport; and,
•a request from Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc. regarding the building of a sidewalk on a future parking area at La Verendrye hospital’s Front Street entrance.
Fort Frances Times
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