Duane Hicks
The Town of Fort Frances will be considering improvements to its recycling transfer station in next year’s budget, and will apply for funding in the near future with the understanding the upgrades will be completed in 2010.
Council last night received a report prepared by Trow Associates Inc. recommending the town look at three prioritized upgrades, including:
•modifying the transfer station property on Wright Avenue so the public can drop off recyclables 24 hours a day;
•installing a proper loading ramp at the transfer station to improve safety efficiency; and
•expanding the recyclable storage building.
These items were deferred from the 2009 capital budget, but will be reconsidered in 2010.
The town received $15,000 last fall from Waste Diversion Ontario’s Continuous Improvement Fund to examine the existing recycling transfer station storage building and property.
Last night’s council meeting was followed by a public meeting regarding zoning bylaw amendments at 1533 King’s Highway and 625 Nelson St.
The amendment at 1533 King’s Highway is to add “retail sales” as a permitted use for the property (the former Fort Rental building), which already was zoned as Highway Commercial.
This will be a store run by Karen Melanson that sells slightly-used clothing.
The amendment at 625 Nelson St. is to rezone the property east of the Riverwalk Condominiums from Residential Type Three and Tourist Commercial to Residential Type Four (to accommodate the possible future development of an apartment dwelling).
No one spoke in opposition to these proposed amendments. As such, both will come forth as bylaws at the March 9 council meeting.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•passed a bylaw to implement the 2009 sewer and water user fee schedule;
•passed a bylaw to authorize a renewal lease agreement with Canadian National Railway Co. for a parking area across the Public Works garage on Fifth St. W. (this is at a cost of $550/year, plus taxes, for five years;
•passed a bylaw to authorize entering into certain lease agreements with Ivey Aviation Ltd., North Air Services, Bearskin Lake Air Service Ltd., and Enterprise Rent-a-Car Canada Ltd. at the Fort Frances Municipal Airport;
•passed a bylaw to approve contracts with Tom Veert Contracting Ltd., George Armstrong Co. Ltd., and Dennis Robinson Ltd. for supply and delivery of granular materials for 2009-11;
•agreed to support, in principle, the Clover Valley Foodbox Project; and
•agreed to support a resolution originally passed by the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry to amend the current provincial policy to provide financial support for indigent funerals (this resolution will be forwarded to the minister of Community and Social Services).
