Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Scott Street Now Open

Traffic is once again flowing on Scott Street.

Barricades blocking the intersection at Scott and Portage Avenue were removed this morning.

The intersection was closed for the past week as crews installed new sewer and water lines along Portage.

Conservation Signage Going Up

The Ministry of Natural Resources is looking to better promote the Rainy Lake Islands Conservation Area.

The area includes more than 54-hundred hectares of crown land islands and was established more than five years ago.

MNR District Planner Rachel Hill says they're now looking at a project that will see signs placed in high traffic areas to better inform the public of the conservation area.

Condo Project Reviewed

The future of a condominium project in Fort Frances will get a further review today.

Members of the planning and development committee will consider extending a purchase agreement with developer Robert Zanette.

Zanette informed town council last week that despite a lack of sales in the Front Street project, he's willing to continue marketing through the winter with possible construction next spring.

The Thunder Bay-based developer still feels there is demand for the units.

Scott Street to Open

A week long closure of the intersection at Scott Street and Portage Avenue is expected to end later today.

Fort Frances Superintendent of Environmental and Facilities Doug Herr says installation of new water and sewer lines was completed on the weekend.

Herr says a crushed asphalt surface will be put down on the roadway, allowing traffic to move freely down Scott by the end of the day.

Underpass Closure Defended

The town of Fort Frances is defending the lengthy shutdown of the Portage Avenue underpass.

The closure was extended another three weeks following of the discovery of a silty clay underneath the road bed last week.

Superintendent of Environmental and Facilities Doug Herr says it required the contractor to do additional work on the site.

"So they had to excavate three feet of material and put a crushed rock material in there to get more stability so they can actually work off of it," says Herr.

Herr says the presence of the clay was not previously know until crews starting digging up the road last week.

Property Standards Questioned

A Fort Frances councillor feels some businesses are being unfairly targeted by the town's enforcement of its property standards by-law.

Ken Perry told council last night five west end property owners received letters he says suggest they install tall fences or trees around their properties.

Perry questioned the motives behind the letters.

"Why did we send five property owners letters when we have 40 plus properties in that area and one of them conforms to anything close to what the by-law says?," said Perry. "and we're asking five of these people to put up a fence."

Perry admitted there is a need for improvement in the area, but doubts any of the owners receiving letters will comply.

Mayor Roy Avis says a review of the by-law maybe in order, but the town needs to take steps to improve the community.

"I think that the direction that's gone to administration is that we want to see this community cleaned up," says Avis., "We want to see them fight blight. We want to see a better community for us to live in and make it acceptable to people who drive in the community. We have the best cemeteries in the area, but we have detractions in other areas."

But the town's Chief Building Officer says the town has no plans to force property owners in the west end to erect fences or trees around their property.

Rick Hallam says the letters issued to property owners simply asked them to make an effort to tidy up their properties.

Hallam says owners were informed of an option of erecting a fence or trees as a buffer, but there was no direct order issued for them to move in that direction.

He adds the town recently revised its property maintenance and occupancy standards by-law this past March.