The town has entered into a partnership with J.W. Walker School’s Environmental Club to promote water conservation and help Fort Frances become an environmentally-sustainable community by making rain barrels available to citizens both here and across the district.
Council approved this partnership at last night’s regular meeting, at which time Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown also reported the details on the initiative.
While the Environmental Club will take on the promotion of water conservation and the uses of rain barrels, the town will handle the ordering and sale of them.
The cost of the rain barrels is $65 each. Residents can pay for these either at the Civic Centre or the Memorial Sports Centre.
Customers then can bring their receipt to the Operations and Facilities office at 900 Wright Street (at the corner of Fifth Street West) and pick up their barrels.
The rain barrels will be stored at the Public Works yard.
The town has ordered a total of 312 rain barrels from Forest City Models and Patterns Ltd., of London, Ont.—the same company providing Thunder Bay with its rain barrel program.
Brown said the barrels will be arriving here next Wednesday (June 18), and that customers can pick them up starting the next day (June 19). However, the barrels can be paid for anytime prior to their arrival.
Each barrel holds 45 gallons, has an on/off valve with a hose attachment, and flat backs to better fit against a wall. They also have removable screen tops to prevent children and animals from drowning, as well as preventing mosquitoes from spreading.
The partnership comes after the club made a presentation to council at its May 19 meeting, encouraging the town to promote water conservation.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•heard a brief presentation by Frank Binder of CN Public Affairs regarding train traffic and other CN-related matters;
•supported a resolution from the Business Improvement Association’s board of management to declare a board vacancy (Doug Anderson of Betty’s has stepped down from the board);
•agreed to a request from the Arthritis Society to proclaim September, 2008 as “Arthritis Month” in the Town of Fort Frances;
•referred a request from C. Belluz regarding a potential property acquisition to the Planning and Development executive committee for its recommendation;
•supported a resolution from Sudbury Mine Mill and Smelter Workers’ Local 598/C.A.W. regarding harassment and violence in the workplace;
•passed a bylaw to amend the business licensing bylaw to provide for an increase in rates chargeable for taxi cabs used for hire within the Town of Fort Frances (the new rates will be $3.95 for the first .25 km and 10 cents for every .043 km after that, with waiting time set at $35/hour);
•passed a bylaw to approve a contract awarded to Norwec Company for water tower improvements (Tender 08-OF-01);
•passed a bylaw to approve an agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) for financing of Phase II of the Heritage Tourism Project under the Rural Economic Development program (this is in the amount of $250,000);
•passed a bylaw to authorize the levying and collection in 2008 of a special charge of taxes upon the BIA in the amount of $46,578, to be paid in two instalments (July 31 and Aug. 29); and
•heard a verbal report from CAO Mark McCaig and Mayor Roy Avis regarding the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference which they attended from May 28-June 2 in Quebec City.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
