Snow Removal Policies Discusssed

The town of Fort Frances is adding more resources to help deal with snow removal this winter.

Five contractor trucks will join town crews over the next ten days.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says they understand the frustration by some residents, but the town is following its policies.

"We know that we have to react," says Brown, "but there's nothing telling us, other than our policy to prioritize, there's no regulation that we're not meeting. We are doing it to the best of our ability in the most cost effective manner for our community."

Brown says Fort Frances has seen more snow this year than it has over the past few winters.

The town budgets about $500-thousand each year for snow removal.

Brown says it spent more than $320-thousand in 2010, compared with the $47-thousand in 2009.

More Surveillance Cameras Installed

There will be more eyes watching over Fort Frances' Memorial Sport Centre and Public Library.

The town is spending over 6-thousand dollars to install more surveillance cameras.

Mayor Roy Avis says it may help curb acts of vandalism.

"The community service committee sat down and looked at it and felt this was a good way in order to track the damage that's being done at that facility," says Avis, "and being done at the new Public Library."

Two of the six new cameras will be pointed at the Library and Skate Park.

More Wood Allocations Coming: Gravelle

Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle says he understands Atikokan Renewable Fuel's disappointment.

The company says it was forced to lay off staff because it hasn't received a wood allocation from the province.

Gravelle says announcements are coming soon.

"I know they're very, very keen to get the results of our wood supply competition," says Gravelle. "I'm very conscience of the urgency for Mr. Fukushima and to know where things are at. I'm doing what I can to get that resolved as quickly as possible."

Gravelle says he did meet with forestry officials in Toronto to discuss future wood allocations.

Oberstar to be Honoured

The city of International Falls is planning to name its new riverfront complex project in honour of long-time U-S Congressman James Oberstar.

Mayor Shawn Mason says Oberstar was instrumental in helping the city get the project off the ground.

"He understood our vision and he embraced it," says Mason, "and he said what can I do to help."

Oberstar will be honoured when the first phases of development which include the new Voyageur National Park headquarters and amphitheatre are opened July 2.

Oberstar was defeated in November's general election after more than 36 years as the area's representative in Washington.

NOMA Happy with Lobby Efforts

Area municipal officials believe the advocacy work of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is paying off.

Acting president and Atikokan Mayor Dennis Brown says NOMA's ability to speak directly to provincial cabinet ministers allowed them to tackle several issues of concern in 2010.

"From all of these meetings we've noticed some changes made for the betterment," says Brown. "We have the ability to meet with the ministers when there is a need to do and we'll continue to do that in 2011."

Brown feels with a provincial election on the way, NOMA will like get increased attention from all parties.

Deer Study

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the University of Minnesota are launching a pilot research project to better understand the movements and habitat of white-tailed deer in northwestern Minnesota.

Researchers plan to place satellite-linked radio collars to track the movement of eighteen deer over the next fifteen months.

Part of the study is to determine if deer are using farmed areas more frequent than nearby forest and wildlife management areas.