Town to look at sewer report

Council will get information on any problems with the town’s sewer system, as well as how to fix them, during a presentation by a consultant at Monday night’s regular meeting at the Civic Centre.
Heather MacKenzie of R.J. Burnside and Associates will hand over a report of the sewer investigation which was conducted over the past several months, said Bruce Spottiswood, Superintendent of Works Facilities.
“This study actually has nothing to do with the storms this year, but from flooding that some residents had on July 31 of last year,” he noted.
“Last fall, concerns were raised by some residents, and among ourselves, over the sewer system and we decided we had to do something,” added Spottiswood.
The consulting firm compared drawings of the town’s sanitary sewer system and its storm sewer system, contacted people who were flooded last year, and conducted tests—like putting dyed water in the catch basin tracking its flow.
Spottiswood said council will receive a condensed version of the report, which is hundreds of pages long in its original form.
“There also will be some recommendations as to what we should do now, and how much it will cost,” he noted.
Other items to be discussed Monday night include:
•reports on a new community improvement plan and a economic development financial incentive plan;
•a request from the Economic Development Advisory Committee for support of its 2003 capital budget request;
•a survey estimate for the La Verendrye Parkway;
•a bylaw to approve a contract for engineering services at the Fort Frances landfill;
•a request to approve a break-open ticket licence application from the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau;
•a bylaw to approve a contract for renovations at the ’52 Canadians Arena;
•a bylaw to authorize an agreement with Lakeland Personnel regarding the provision of crossing guards during the 2002-03 school year;
•a request for financial support from the Rainy River District Critical Incident Stress Management Team;
•an invitation from Rainy River First Nations to participate in the 2002 “Adopt-A-River” program;
•a computer acquisition update;
•a request to designate a taxi and ambulance parking zone outside Rose Manor;
•plans for this year’s long-term service/retirement appreciation banquet;
•a report on renovations at the OPP station here; and
•a report on the acquisition of water and sewer billing software.
The committee of the whole meeting gets underway at 5:30 p.m. downstairs at the Civic Centre, with the regular council meeting starting at 7:10 p.m. on the main floor.