Duane Hicks
While town council banned smoking near the Memorial Sports Centre doors nearly two years ago, some smokers still need to be reminded, Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft said at Monday night’s meeting.
“Over the last couple of days, I have received several complaints—and I have polled other members of council, as well, and they, too, have received complaints—about the amount of smoking in the front door entrance to the Memorial Sports Centre, especially in the evening when there’s kids’ sports going on,” Coun. Wiedenhoeft noted.
“There’s a bylaw in place that says smokers must remove themselves at least nine metres away from the front door entrances, which would be approximately 30 feet,” he added.
“We’re not asking them to go across the street or go to International Falls for their cigarettes,” Coun. Wiedenhoeft stressed. “All we’re asking for is a little consideration for the people coming in and out of the building, that they remove themselves from the vicinity of the front doors.
“Move a little bit to the west, move a little bit to the south, so people don’t have to walk through the clouds of smoke, and the kids don’t have to walk through clouds of smoke to get in and out of that building.”
Coun. Wiedenhoeft said the town has issued tickets to violators in the past, with the fine being $115.
“We don’t want to have to do that, but if you force our hand, we may have to bring bylaw down there and lay out some tickets,” he warned.
“So, please, be considerate of others.
“We don’t to go the ticket route,” Coun. Wiedenhoeft reiterated. “Just remove yourselves 30 feet away from the front doors of the Memorial Sports Centre, especially during times of kids’ sports.”
Also at Monday night’s meeting, council:
•referred a letter of concern from Wilson’s Business Solutions, regarding sidewalk run-off issues, to the Operations and Facilities executive committee for its recommendation;
•referred a letter from Blair Anderson, regarding snow removal in downtown Fort Frances, to the Operations and Facilities executive committee for its recommendation; and
•referred a resolution from the Police Services Board, recommending that council examine options or other initiatives that would reduce the incidents of motorists cutting the traffic line going to the U.S., to the Operations and Facilities executive committee for its recommendation.
