Duane Hicks
The town is not in a position to build a new outdoor ice rink facility on the Robert Moore School property anytime soon.
The public school board recently had asked the town whether it wanted to build a new rink there after it took down the old one in January, 2009 to make room for the new school being built there.
In response to this query, Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown submitted a report to council, which was approved at last night’s regular meeting.
Brown said administration has a hard time justifying the redevelopment of a new outdoor ice rink facility on the Robert Moore site due to several factors.
Besides the town’s financial resources being “very limited,” there would be a negative financial impact to the ongoing operating budget.
Brown explained that after closing down the central rink in 2009, two full-time Parks and Cemeteries employees were given additional winter control duties, including removing snow from the museum walkways and steps, and cleaning snow off the stairways along the waterfront.
If a new rink were built, the staff also would be required to maintain it, affecting the current budget.
Brown also pointed out there are five ice-skating surfaces in the community—the north end, east end, and McIrvine rinks, as well as the two indoor rinks at the Memorial Sports Centre.
“Based on future population trends and demand for these recreational services, the existing five ice-skating surfaces should be able to satisfy the need for these services in the future,” Brown noted in the report.
After corresponding with Raymond Roy, manager of plant operations and maintenance for the Rainy River District School Board, Brown said what’s also unknown at this time is if all the costs to develop such an outdoor ice rink facility, and provide some kind of heated shack for the water supply on Robert Moore property, would be the responsibility of the town.
Council approved the report and agreed to advise the school board that council was not in a position to redevelop an outdoor ice rink facility at the Robert Moore site.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•heard from Jim Sheppard of the International Early Iron Car Club regarding the “Scott Street Show ’n Shine”;
•heard from Jamie McPherson, with the Ontario Clean Water Agency, regarding local sewage treatment plant operations (the 2010 annual report showed no serious problems);
•directed an application for a provincial break-open ticket licence from the La Verendrye General Hospital Auxiliary at the Bonnie Blue from April 12-Oct. 11, 2011 be processed in conformance to provincial regulations and rules;
•referred a request from D. Lizotte, re: a negotiation of sewer extension at 393 Pit Rd., to the Operations and Facilities executive committee for its recommendation, with input from the Administration and Finance executive committee;
•referred a request from City of Kingston for the adoption of a resolution re: an increase to a “Heads and Beds Levy” to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation;
•passed a bylaw to amend Town of Fort Frances By-Law 06/77 to limit the tenure of office of appointments by council to boards and committees (the amendment is that provisions of this bylaw do not apply to members of the Fort Frances Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corp.);
•passed a bylaw to establish tax ratios for prescribed property classes;
•passed a bylaw to approve an agreement with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services for emergency 9-1-1 CERB services by the OPP; and
•passed a bylaw to authorize the execution of a letter of understanding with CUPE re: mechanics scheduling.