Duane Hicks
Sewer and water will cost more for all customer classes if town council approves a new set of rates at its regular meeting tonight.
After going through several scenarios at a meeting last Wednesday, the Operations and Facilities executive committee is recommending the following:
•a one percent increase to the flat rate for residential customers;
•a one percent increase to the metered rate for non-residential customers;
•a three percent increase to the volumetric rate for the industrial and commercial classes;
•a new institutional class (separate from industrial and commercial), with a nine percent increase to the volumetric rate;
•a reduction in the amount of water included in the institutional and commercial and industrial minimum flat rate from 216 cubic metres to 180 cubic metres a year; and
•a three percent increase for fire hydrants and sprinklers.
These increases are expected to generate additional revenue in the amount of $216,556.41.
The public portion of tonight’s meeting is scheduled to start at 6:25 p.m.
Other business on the agenda includes:
•a Forest Fire Management Agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources;
•a Memorandum of Agreement with the Canadian Red Cross Society;
•a report re: new vandalism and willful damage policy;
•a report re: emergency services capital purchases;
•a recommendation re: the Sunset Country Métis financial request;
•a report re: accessibility for taxi cabs;
•a Fort Frances High School advertising request;
•a report re: outstanding accounts receivable;
•travel and per diem claims for Mayor Roy Avis and Coun. Ken Perry;
•per diem claims for Couns. John Albanese, Paul Ryan, Sharon Tibbs, and Rick Wiedenhoeft;
•a report re: officers and signing authority;
•a report regarding the town’s accessibility plan;
•an invitation from the local Alzheimer Society to attend the “Spring Reflections” charitable dinner here March 24;
•a resolution from the Fort Frances Police Services Board re: the establishment of a bylaw for the purpose of controlling excessive alarm reports within the Town of Fort Frances;
•an invitation from L. Skaarup, Union Gas utility services and construction manager, re: proposal for “Helping Hands” project at the ’52 Canadians and Ice for Kids Arenas;
•an invitation for input from A/Insp. S. Shouldice, Rainy River District OPP, re: 2011-13 Rainy River District Business Plan;
•a letter dated Feb. 3, 2012 from E. Katona re: smoking bylaw enforcement issues.
•a financial request from the Ontario 9-1-1 Advisory Board re: the continuation of the 9-1-1 Advisory Board as technical and information authority respecting implementation and operation of 9-1-1 Emergency Number Systems in Ontario;
•a bylaw to amend Town of Fort Frances By-Law 10/03 (this is to install a second church loading zone on Victoria Avenue, as requested by the Salvation Army);
•a bylaw to authorize a lease with respect to certain municipal property at 501 Sixth St. W.;
•a request from the City of International Falls re: the joint proclamation to celebrate International Peaceful Borders Day on July 2;
•a resolution from the Economic Development Advisory Committee re: commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the International Bridge;
•a notice re: terms of reference and record of consultation for the Osisko Hammond Reef Gold Project; and
•a verbal report from Mayor Roy Avis re: events for Family Day (Feb. 20).
