Duane Hicks
The town is applying for funding to do a study for the two properties it recently acquired from Resolute.
The Rainy River Future Development Corp. has prepared and submitted two funding applications to complete a land use and economic development feasibility study for the Shevlin wood yard and at 420 Mowat Ave. (the old nursing station building).
The total cost to complete the feasibility study is estimated at $150,000, with the town requesting funding of $70,000 under the provincial Rural Economic Development (RED) funding program and $65,000 from FedNor.
The town’s contribution is estimated to be $15,000, plus the cost to prepare an RFP package to retain a land use/economic development consultant to complete the study.
The town’s portion will be funded from the 2018 operating budget, which included $100,000 for enhanced economic development initiatives.
As of last month, only $37,052 of this had been spent.
Members of council and administration have said in the past that a committee comprised of citizens and other stakeholders also will be struck to provide input on the future use of these properties.
Also at last night’s meeting (held a day later due to the Thanksgiving holiday), council:
•agreed to conduct a review of the town’s fencing bylaw before approving a nine-foot fence to be built on a local resident’s property;
•agreed to amend the Borderland Hotel Inc. site plan control agreement, which will enable the property owner to add 24 rooms to the Super 8 Hotel;
•approved applications for tax adjustments at 911 Victoria Ave. (2018), 1880 McIrvine Rd. (2018), and 907 Cornwall Ave. (2018);
•referred a letter from W. Friesen, The Sleepy Owl, re: maintenance and repair of the back alley to the Operations & Facilities executive committee for its recommendation;
•passed a bylaw to approve a business service agreement with Tbaytel to get fibre services;
•passed a bylaw to authorize a data-sharing agreement for purposes of utilization of the town’s geospatial data with the OPP;
•passed a bylaw to authorize an extension to a licence agreement with the Minister of Infrastructure for purposes of leasing storage space at the airport garage;
•agreed to sanction an adult shinny user fee of $3/person during non-prime time hours;
•agreed to receive a report from the Fort Frances Senior Centre Board of Management, re: facility acquisition, with no further action at this time; and
•endorsed the Ontario transfer payment agreement for the Seniors Active Living Centres Program at the Fort Frances Senior Centre and authorize appropriate execution of the agreement (this is the annual operating fund for the centre).
