Duane Hicks
The public will get a chance to provide input into the town’s new official plan at a pair of workshops/open houses here next Wednesday (Sept. 2).
Slated for 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. in the Sportsplex conference room at the Memorial Sports Centre, people are encouraged to participate in discussions with other residents, stakeholders, and the consultants to provide input for the new official plan.
In a report to council Monday evening, municipal planner Faye Flatt said public input is an important part of the process.
“I encourage anyone interested in participating in the process to attend the workshops,” she noted, adding it will be an informal process involving the consultants.
Flatt explained the official plan “gives the town guidance—it’s general goals and objectives of the vision of where the town wants to see development, be it industrial, commercial, or residential.”
“And we use that to steer the development in a way that is cohesive and compatible with adjacent properties,” she added.
Future public meetings will be held later this year as progress is made on the official plan.
For additional information or to have questions answered, call Flatt at 274-5323 ext. 275, e-mail her at fflatt@fort-frances.com, or drop by the Civic Centre.
Also at Monday night’s meeting, council:
•authorized the purchase of a 2004 Ford Windstar van from Lake of the Woods Child Development Centre for the sum of $1;
•authorized the issuance of the certificate of final acceptance for the Downey/Kehler subdivision, and passed a bylaw to assume above ground and below ground municipal services relative to Stage II of subdivision 48M-347 and to assume certain lands and establish highways;
•heard verbal updates on local projects from Community Services manager George Bell and Transportation Superintendent Milt Strachan;
•approved the 2010 budget timetable;
•authorized the purchase of radio frequency identification equipment for a self-checkout system for the new Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre from SirsiDynix for $92,073.24, including PST (this cost is below the budgeted amount of $100,000);
•received minutes of settlement for 11 local properties;
•approved a financial request from the Sunset Country Travel Association re: annual per capita marketing contribution in the amount of $1,513, plus GST;
•agreed to send a congratulatory letter, signed by Mayor Roy Avis, to the Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association’s sales barn party committee in honour of the 50th anniversary of the Stratton sales barn (which is being celebrated Sept. 19); and
•agreed to buy a half-page ad, at a cost of $250, in the program for the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony Sept. 26 in Thunder Bay, as well as agreed to have Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft represent the town at the 28th-annual dinner (Fort Frances native Dave Allison is among this year’s inductees).
