Duane Hicks
The waste disposal site the local Ministry of Natural Resources runs for the Mine Centre area has reached its maximum capacity, and the MNR is asking the town about the possibility of using its dump in the future.
In a letter received by council Tuesday evening, MNR area supervisor Jeff Wiume said the MNR is in the process of closing the existing site and locating a new WDS or an alternative method of managing household waste for the community.
Wiume noted the local MNR has hired a consultant, Trow Associates Inc., to complete an environmental assessment (EA) and study report, and recommend the best option to the MNR.
“They have completed the first phase of their study and we are considering candidate sites for a new WDS, as well as the option of constructing a transfer station,” he wrote.
“As part of our EA requirements, we are reviewing the transfer station option and we need to determine if the Town of Fort Frances would be willing to receive the waste material from a transfer station on an ongoing basis and get an estimate of what price the Town of Fort Frances would charge to receive this material,” Wiume explained.
He said the province is asking the MNR to move out of direct delivery of waste management activities.
The MNR currently administers four small waste disposal sites in the Fort Frances area, which are operated in accordance with Ministry of Environment regulations.
The Mine Centre site is a year-round one that accommodates Mine Centre and the surrounding area, which includes about 150 permanent year-round residents, 26 recreational camps/cottages, and three commercial resorts/lodges.
The MNR holds a certificate of approval which directs that the waste should be 90 percent domestic and 10 percent other, which is limited to scrap metal and wood.
“A transfer station interests us as it represents a long-term solution to managing household waste for the Mine Centre area,” Wiume remarked.
Council referred the request to the Operations and Facilities executive committee for its recommendation.
Arena smoking
After a number of recent complaints, the town once again is reminding the public not to smoke by the arena doors.
Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig said members of the public came forth with concerns about smoking near the arena doors a few years ago and that council responded by passing a bylaw that says smokers must remove themselves at least nine metres away from the front door entrances if they want to light up.
But lately, he has received complaints about people disregarding the bylaw.
“There is some signage in place, there’s going to be some more signage put in place, and the message I’d like to give to people is that if you’re inclined to smoke within that distance, it’s contravening the bylaw,” McCaig noted.
“The bylaw enforcement officers will be enforcing the bylaw in the next little while, and it does carry with it a substantial fine, so we’d encourage everybody to adhere to the bylaw and respect the fact that it’s in place,” he stressed.
“It’s intended to be for the overall good of the community. . . .
“If you choose not to adhere to it—we are giving forewarning—bylaw will be issuing tickets,” McCaig concluded.
Obama invite
Also Tuesday night, council supported a request from the City of International Falls for U.S. President Barack Obama to sign a resolution declaring July 2 as “International Peaceful Borders Day,” and will consider sending a similar request to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
As previously reported, International Falls has taken the lead in planning a series of events on July 2 to coincide with the dedication of the new James Oberstar Riverfront Complex, which is located across the river from the Sorting Gap Marina here.
These include a Loverboy concert and the annual international tug-of-war, which sees people from both sides of the border compete.
