Town council received an annual report on the Fort Frances Wastewater Treatment Facility last night and the results show it had another problem-free year.
Jeff Trudeau, project manager for Ontario Regional Projects-American Water Canada Corp., told council the plant was “operated well and achieved excellent results” in 2007.
The facility saw an average flow of 6,792 cubic metres/day. This is about 75 percent of the 9,000 cubic metres/day the plant is designed to handle.
A total of 92 percent of flows throughout 2007 fell within this limit while eight percent of the flows slightly exceeded plant design capacity, with no bypasses to the river.
Overall, 2007 was a slightly dry year, noted Trudeau, with a six percent decrease in plant flow compared to 2006 and 10 percent less flow than in 2005.
There was only a single instance of non-compliance with suspended solids in November. In this case, the sample showed 26.2 mg/L of suspended solids, which was slightly higher that the certificate of approval limit of 25 mg/L.
Trudeau noted this was a single high sample during planned clarifier maintenance. The incident was reported to the Ministry of Environment and the town.
Trudeau noted a couple of capital projects, totalling $30,000 in cost, were completed at the wastewater treatment plant last year, and added all preventative and corrective maintenance was completed on time and on budget.
As for the year ahead, Trudeau said American Water Canada looks forward to continuing to achieve full environmental compliance at the local wastewater treatment plant, as well as continued asset protection for the town (i.e., preventative and corrective maintenance, input into the town’s capital investment program, etc.)
The company also will continue regular client reporting to the MoE, council, and town staff, and continue to partner with the town on cost-sharing opportunities for facility maintenance, permitting, and employee training.
In related news, town council did not receive a quarterly police activity report from OPP detachment commander Insp. Dave Lucas last night as scheduled, but will do so as a meeting in the near future.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•received an update from John Knox of Chamberlain Architects regarding plans for the new Fort Frances Public Library;
•referred a letter from resident Crystal Morrison regarding a taxation invoice to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation, with input from Planning and Development;
•passed a bylaw to authorize the entering into of certain lease agreements at the Fort Frances Municipal Airport;
•passed a bylaw to amend Bylaw 10/03 (Traffic Control Bylaw).
This amendment is to move a handicap parking spot from one part of the 300 block of Scott Street to another; to prohibit parking on a portion of Butler Avenue and Victoria Avenue; and to create a loading zone on the west side of Victoria Avenue, adjacent to Northland Basics, and just north of the intersection on Scott Street;
•agreed to buy a table of 10, at a cost of $150, for the “Rockin’ the Library” fundraiser event scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 23; and
•received a letter from resident Helen Crook regarding the need for an assisted living facility, and will respond to her as what’s currently being done regarding the issue.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
