Duane Hicks
A Ministry of Environment inspection of the town’s water system back on Feb. 4-5 found no health risks or non-compliance issues, Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown told council Monday night.
No orders were issued as a result of the inspection, but one recommended action/best practice from the MoE was that the circle chart paper for the continuous chlorine analyzer be changed on a weekly basis on Tuesday mornings at the same time as the water treatment plant operators change weekly on-call duties.
This is a minor change to operations, with no financial impact.
Council thanked Environmental and Facilities superintendent Doug Herr, overall operator-in-charge Randy White, senior water treatment plant operator Brad Webb, water treatment plant operator Keith Munro, water distribution system operator Paul Lemesurier, and water distribution system operator Greg Wiedenhoeft for their effort and hard work in ensuring “that all customers connected to the town’s water distribution system receive outstanding water which meets all applicable regulations.”
Also at Monday night’s meeting, council agreed to a recommendation from the Administration and Finance executive committee that the request from Abzac-Fort Frances Division for a tax levy reduction be denied, and that Abzac contact MPAC to review its industrial assessment value.
In a report from treasurer Laurie Witherspoon, she indicated that under the Municipal Act, there are no provisions for the reduction of taxes requested.
In fact, Section 106 (2) (d) expressly prohibits and states that a municipality shall not grant assistance by “giving of a total or partial exemption from a levy, charge, or fee.”
Also Monday night, council:
•approved a report recommending the town enter into an Ontario Geospatial Data Exchange (OGDE) with Ontario (this will allow for the town to post its local GIS data on the Internet this June);
•approved a report stating the town’s present method of installing private crossings remain the same;
•awarded Tender 09-OF-06 (the supply and installation of a truck-mounted A-1 aviation fuel dispensing system) to Eastway Tank, Pump and Meter Ltd. at a total cost of $85,654;
•approved the adjustment to fuel prices at the Fort Frances Airport (effective April 13, 100LL fuel will cost $1.48 per litre while Jet A-1 fuel will cost $1.28 per litre, which reflect a 48 percent and 41.47 percent mark-up, respectively, from the actual purchase price);
•authorized the mayor and clerk to sign a lease and partnership agreement for the operation of an outreach program at 1018 Webster Ave. (this is an extension of the existing outreach program, and is made possible this year through the allocation of $17,000 in “Best Start” funding);
•authorized the mayor and clerk to sign a five-year lease with Wilson’s for Sharp MX3100 document centres for the Memorial Sports Centre and Children’s Complex at $217.80 per month plus copying charges, and a five-year lease for a Richo Aficio MP 161 for $36.50 per month at the museum; and
•agreed to a recommendation of the Administration and Finance executive committee to support the request from the Fort Frances Aquanauts Swim Team for $100 to purchase an advertising banner.
