Duane Hicks
Plans are moving forward to do a town-wide clean-up this spring.
The town will launch its “Fight the Blight” campaign in May, Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig said during an update on strategic plan initiatives at last night’s council meeting.
The town clean-up was spurred by a letter from the local Chamber of Commerce submitted during last year’s strategic planning process.
“We’re actually going to commit some serious resources from the town,” McCaig noted.
“We’re going to be utilizing summer students, we’re going to be utilizing a lot of other staff, and we’re going to be utilizing equipment,” he said.
“We’re going to try and clean up the community in a significant way.
“Primarily, we’re concerned with people’s yards and other areas and properties we may have,” McCaig added.
“And cleaning up some of the big stuff for people that aren’t able, or don’t have the resources, to get some of that stuff out to our landfill.”
The town also will call on the private sector to devote in-kind resources, such as trucks and drivers.
There will be free tipping at the landfill for several days.
“It’s pretty exciting,” said McCaig.
“We want to market it such that the community really jumps on board, digs in, and makes this a worthwhile effort for our community.”
More information about “Fight the Blight” will be forthcoming.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•designated the Boundary Waters Dragon Boat Festival (June 25) as a significant community event;
•allocated contributions to capital from reserve funds in the amount of $112,431.90, and contributions to capital in the amount of $112,259.91 from the general operating fund, to finance 2015 capital fund expenditures;
•proceeded with the enactment of a deeming bylaw for lots 59-61 (Ahrens property), then passed a bylaw to designate and deem a certain plan of subdivision, or part thereof, not to be a registered plan of subdivision (Lots 59, 60 and 61, SM119);
•referred a recommendation, re: sanitary sewer services on a property on Eighth Street, back to the Planning and Development executive committee to get further information;
•denied the request from J. DeGagne to waive the development fees for the purchase of a serviceable lot in the industrial park;
•entered into a geospatial data licence agreement with Tbaytel for a fee, then passed a bylaw to authorize the agreement;
•entered into a non-binding revised master mobility service agreement with Tbaytel that the mayor and clerk be authorized to execute;
•referred a request from the BIA, to have a page on the Town of Fort Frances’ website, to the Community Services executive committee for its recommendation; and
•passed a bylaw to amend bylaw 21/14 to provide for a loading zone in front of Suds & Tubs on Portage Avenue.
