Fort Frances Budget Finalized

Fort Frances town council has put the final touches to the 2011 budget.

It comes with a 2.55 per cent increase for most residential ratepayers.

Councillor Ken Perry says it's a budget he can accept.

"We worked hard on it," says Perry. "We've chiseled away at everything we could and we've questioned every aspect of life in Fort Frances to get it down to where it is without hurting services. I know we've cut a few, but there' probably still more to cut in years to come if the economy continues to go the way it's going."

Council will formally accept the budget at their meeting next Monday

Connecting Link Funding Denied Again

The town of Fort Frances has again been denied provincial funding for upgrades to a section of Scott Street.

The town was informed so-called Connecting Link funding was distributed early last month and that it was not among the thirty-one communities benefiting.

It puts the Fort Frances road project on hold for a third straight year.

Solar Panel Project Gets Nod

A plan to install solar panels on some municipal buildings in Fort Frances is getting approval from town councillors.

Mayor Roy Avis says the $375-thousand project is an asset for the community for the future.

"I know that people are quite skeptical when you get paid 80 cents per kilowatt hour and your only getting charged 5 cents on your power bill," says Avis, "but that's the legislation that government has in place at the present time."

The panels will go on the roofs of the Memorial Sports Centre, public works building, daycare centre and water treatment centre.

A plan to put them on the sewage treatment plant was scrapped but it was deemed the building was suitable for the panels.

New College Program In Place

Confederation College has received funding to offer a new pre-apprenticeship program in automotive and heavy equipment mechanics at its campuses in Fort Frances and Kenora this spring.

Don Bernosky, executive director of Innovation and Skills Development says it addresses a demand for the program.

"We haven't offered this particular program at all in Fort Frances," says Bernosky. "We offered it a number of years ago in Kenora. It's an opportunity to be able to build the foundation and get the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to pursue a career in automotive and heavy equipment mechanics."

The $275-thousand in government money allows the College to offer the program for 40 weeks beginning at the end of May.

Debates Planned

At least two candidate debates are being planned for the Rainy River District this month.

April 19 will see the Thunder Bay-Rainy River candidates in Stratton.

The next day they will be in Fort Frances for a debate organized by the Chamber of Commerce.

All of the candidates but Conservative Maureen Comuzzi-Stehman have confirmed their attendance.