Duane Hicks
The Town of Fort Frances is looking for a means to humanely get rid of Canada geese, which have been flocking to the area in increasing numbers over the past few years.
In a report from the Planning & Development executive committee, bylaw enforcement officer Patrick Briere said his department has looked into techniques the town could implement to deter the geese away from the La Verendrye Parkway, Point Park, Seven Oaks, and McIrvine Road near the water tower.
“This office, along with other departments, has had to deal with numerous complaints/issues with geese defecating and causing damage to the above-mentioned areas for the past few years,” Briere wrote in a report received by council last evening.
“The geese frequent these areas mostly in the spring and fall when they are migrating north and south,” he noted.
“We have noticed over the past few years that the geese numbers that are frequenting these areas has grown significantly, and the amounts of feces and expenses being incurred by the town have increased,” he added.
Briere said the town could find someone, such as the Fort Frances Sportsmen’s Club or trappers, to conduct humane methods of destruction in accordance with damage and danger permit requirements.
The town also would have to ensure proper disposal of the birds by burial at the landfill.
While there are options such as “scare tactics” and relocation, Briere noted the town does not have enough resources for most of these.
As well, outside assistance to work alongside bylaw enforcement would be required to properly fulfil any permit the town may be granted by Canadian Wildlife Services.
Council approved the recommendation from the Planning & Development executive committee, indicating Briere should to take the necessary steps to find an appropriate entity to ensure the humane destruction of geese, as well as submit a permit application to Canadian Wildlife Services.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•received Minutes of Settlement for 2013 for property located on Sixth Street West (Plan 48M 357 Lot 30-1), with the total financial impact being $2,287.84 (consisting of a reduction of municipal value of $2,236.29 and education value of $51.55);
•referred a $7 per capita request from the Rainy River Future Development Corp. to the 2015 budget, as recommended by the Administration and Finance executive committee (the per capita amount equals $55,685);
•approved a donation of the 2014 OPP annual auction net proceeds, in the amount of $205.94, to the Community Policing Committee, as requested by the Police Services Board;
•authorized Fort Frances Museum curator Sherry George to purchase an environmentally-controlled display cabinet, costing about $5,000, using 2014 museum donation money (any unspent portion of the money will be deferred revenue for 2015);
•approved a report from Clerk Lisa Slomke showing the town fulfilled Municipal Election Act accessibility requirements during the 2014 municipal election;
•approved a purchase card expense claim for CAO Mark McCaig in the amount of $35.27;
•approved a designated location request for an adult entertainment parlour in the 200 block of Scott Street (Club 88);
•referred a request from Linda Plumridge, chair of Safe Communities Rainy River District, for 2014-15 per capita funding to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation (the group is asking for $.50 per capita); and
•referred a sponsorship request from Wendy Kabel, producer and volunteer, V-Day Fort Frances (TVM) 2015, to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation (the special production of “The Vagina Monologues,” to benefit Rainy River District Victims Services, is slated for Feb. 14 at the Townshend Theatre).
