Town Encouraged to Put more in Reserves

The town of Fort Frances is being advised to raise more tax revenue to help cover the cost of replacing aging infrastructure.

An asset management plan outlined to councillors last night says the town hasn't been putting enough money into reserves in the past.

Jim Bruzezze of BMA Management Consulting says a 5 per cent hike in tax revenues for the next five years would help.

"By doing that, you would have an additional $2.5 million," says Bruzezzes. "So that $2.5 million would be available to increase the reserves or decrease the amount of debt incurred over the next five years."

Bruzezze says about $33.5 million in town assets needed to be replaced now.

He also suggests similar hikes to water and sewer rates to help cover capital in those areas.

Lakers Denied Sign By-law Exemption

Fort Frances Lakers hockey club request to be exempt from a new town by-law governing the use of mobile signs has been denied.

Councillor Rick Wiedenhoeft says it wouldn't be right to start making changes to a by-law that only took effect this month.

"We don't want to start shooting holes in our sign by-law after taking two to three years to rearch and develop," says Wiedenhoeft. "It's the wrong way to go."

The Lakers have used two signs to promote their games and activities year round, but the new by-law now limits their use to 180 days per year.

Attendance to Training Session Debated

Attendance to an upcoming councillor training session in Emo drew some strong discussion at Fort Frances council last night.

Mayor Roy Avis felt because council was acclaimed, attendance wasn't as important and suggested travel costs not be paid to those who want to attend.

Councillor John Albanese, who plans to attend, felt attacked by the suggestion.

"I wasn't going there because I wasn't going to be paid," says Albanese. "I was going to go there to support Emo. If anybody wants to donate towards the ten dollars it's going to cost me to attend the conference, I'll take it out of my pocket."

Councillor Rick Wiedenhoeft added the Mayor's suggestion went against a new travel policy adopted by council last year.

LGA Reduction Limited

Legislative Republicans pushing a one billion dollar package of spending cuts have softened the long-term effect on Minnesota cities and counties.

The House Ways and Means Committee changed the bill to make reductions in local government aid temporary instead of permanent.

The bill would decrease projected aid by more than 400 million over the next two years.

Ontario Realty Corporation Disappearing

The Ontario Realty Corporation appears to be the first agency to disappear under the McGuinty government's deficit-fighting program.

Published reports says it is to merge with Infrastructure Ontario.

The agency manages a huge real estate portfolio on behalf of the province.

Ice Roads Partially Open

Ice roads to remote First Nations across northwestern Ontario are beginning to open up to light vehicle traffic.

However, the routes over frozen lakes and swamps are still not strong enough to support heavy supply transports and fuel trucks.

There are almost three-thousand kilometres of ice roads in Ontario.

Boundaries Redraw Facing Court Challenges

A court fight over how Minnesota's new political boundaries for Congress and the Legislature get drawn has a new front.

Several Republicans have filed a case in state court to go along with one Democrats put in motion this month in federal court.

Both argue the existing maps are outdated and therefore invalid.