Repairing Front Street may not be dead issue

After shooting down the idea as far too costly to squeeze into the 2003 budget late last year, town council may take another look at reconstructing Front Street—east of Victoria Avenue—after the issue was brought up again by the La Verendrye Parkway Advisory Committee.
If at least four councillors vote in favour of tabling the request at tonight’s meeting, then the issue will be discussed, CAO Bill Naturkach said this morning.
He noted the item came before council several times last year, and during the 2003 budget process, but ultimately was put on hold due to its $1.2 million price tag.
“It’s a dilemma, no doubt,” remarked Naturkach, adding that even if council agreed to take another look at the reconstruction, coming up with the funds to do the job wouldn’t be easy.
“And even if council were of mind to proceed with the project, it wouldn’t be possible to get it done before July 1 [the date of the official opening of the La Verendrye Parkway] due to construction schedules,” he noted.
The request to reconstruct Front Street came from John McTaggart, chair of the La Verendrye Parkway Advisory Committee, after the committee passed a resolution at its March 19 meeting.
“The town’s 2003 centennial celebration will be highlighted by the July 1 official opening of the La Verendrye Parkway—a project that the entire community will be so proud of for its very high value of both beauty and use,” reads McTaggart’s letter to council.
“Front Street, as it is now, is in terrible condition,” he added. “The parkway will not truly be compete until the road is reconstructed—they are synonymous, one complements the other.
“We are not unappreciative of council’s current financial predicament, however, we urge you once again to reconsider this very important manner,” McTaggart’s letter concluded.
Council also will be asked tonight to reconsider a request from resident Joyce LaFreniere for a stop sign at the corner of River Road West and McIrvine Road.
This also will require four affirmative votes by council to warrant any further discussion.
Tonight’s council meeting will start shortly after 7 p.m. (immediately after a series of two public meetings regarding the final reading of a bylaw to change sewer and water rates, and a bylaw to stop up, close, and sell a part of Sinclair Street).
The committee of the whole will meet first, going in-camera at 5:30 p.m., then re-opening to the public at 5:50.
Other business at tonight’s meeting includes:
•an update on upcoming centennial events by co-ordinator Marla Simpson;
•a verbal report from Mayor Glenn Witherspoon regarding Municipal Control Group matters in relation to the U.S.-Iraq conflict;
•a report from Operations and Facilities manager Pat Hickerson regarding frozen and broken water lines;
•verbal updates from Naturkach regarding donors for trees along the La Verendrye Parkway, the fate of the old Fort High, and officials from Paris, Tenn. visiting here April 30-May 4;
•a bylaw to approve an amendment to an agreement with the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. for financing of Phase II of the La Verendrye Parkway;
•a break open ticket licence application from the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau for the Makabi Inn (for March 1, 2003-March 1, 2004);
•a letter from David Clink regarding traffic flow on Central Avenue and Scott Street; and
•a letter from local MP Robert Nault regarding the “Re-Inventing Fort Frances” final report.