It’s business as usual for Fort Frances town council as they meet tonight for their regularly scheduled meeting at the Fort Frances Civic Centre.
Along with several recurring items on council’s agenda, such as verbal updates from the mayor and select councillors, council will also be receiving directions from administration on several items that could have positive impacts on those looking to cool off during the warm summer months, as well as those looking to visit with departed loved ones at Riverview Cemetery.
Council will be accepting with thanks a donation from Farmboy Real Estate to be put towards the construction of a splash pad. According to a report by operations and facilities manager Travis Rob, the town has been working on developing plans for a splash pad since around November 2021, when Farmboy Real Estate first contacted them. Following those talks, and more recently the stalled discussions between the town and Beyak Automotive Group, Rob notes that a design for a 3,000 square foot splash pad has been completed, including a fishing theme which he wrote “aligns with the focus of the MAT Committee.” That design and installation, along with the necessary upgrades and additions to Lillie Avenue such as an additional washroom/pumphouse building, AODA-compliant walkways and additional services, has been estimated to cost the town $330,000. Rob wrote that the cost could be reduced “by any number of measures of donations or having Town staff undertake some of the construction works reducing the costs to materials only.”
The park itself is described as a “flow through pad” meaning the water for the park would come from the town’s treated water mains and flush directly into the sewer system, which Rob wrote is “substantially cheaper” to build and easier to maintain, though he also notes it is not the “preferred” type of splash pad. Running the pad is estimated to consume 7.073 cubic metres of water each year, and at the town’s current water rate of $2.02 per cubic metre, the town would spend $14,287.83 each year on the water alone, not accounting in additional costs around staffing to keep the pad clean and operational.
Rob notes the next steps for the project would be to create a committee composed of five members of the public, one member of Farmboy Real Estate and one member of town administration to finalize the location as design work for the pad, and to take the lead on additional fundraising activities. Rob also suggests a trust account be set up for this and any future donations towards the pad.
Also on tonight’s agenda is the matter of installing a bench at the Riverview Cemetery Columbaria. A request for the bench was submitted in a letter to council by Linda Chisick at the April 11, 2022 meeting of council. In it, Chisick requested permission from the town to have a bench put in near the LaVerendrye Columbarium at the cemetery in honour of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herb Smith.
Rob notes is a report to council that there are several benches currently placed around the columbaria, but if council is open to the idea of an additional bench, that the town follow similar procedure to when someone requests the installation of a bench long the riverfront or in other parts of town like parks. In short, the requestor would be billed the cost of the bench and would be responsible for procuring a memorial plaque. the town would take care of pouring a concrete foundation and installing the bench and plaque afterwards. Rob notes the cost for a bench from the town’s supplier is $1,358.85 plus taxes and shipping.
Tonight’s meeting of town council will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Fort Frances Civic Centre, with a link to the online Zoom meeting available at the town website.
