Town to take on old hotel property

The Town of Fort Frances will move ahead to vest the old Rainy Lake Hotel property, but will wait until budget time before considering taking further steps.
Council agreed last night to a recommendation of the Administration and Finance committee to vest the property.

But it put off decisions to tender for up-to-date demolition costs, apply for senior government funding opportunities, and to work with the local BIA to create a market square until the 2013 budget process.
Vesting the property means the town will register the former hotel property in its name. This is all part of the tax sale process.
A tax arrears certificate was registered against the hotel property back in July, 2009.
In early 2011, the property was advertised for sale by way of public tender, but no offers were received.
This meant council then had to decide whether or not to vest the property.
If a notice of vesting is not registered within two years after a public sale is conducted, and there is no successful buyer, the tax arrears certificate is deemed cancelled.
The aforementioned recommendations were put forth by the Rainy Lake Hotel Advisory Committee at the June 11 meeting of council.
Meanwhile, as part of the ongoing implementation of a Drinking Water Quality Management System (DWQMS) operational plan, council reviewed and endorsed three action items at last night’s meeting.
These included:
•holding monthly DWQMS meetings to review the existing operational plan in order to develop a clear understanding of all the existing elements outlined in the DWQMS operational plan;
•considering the installation of a back-up electrical generator at the water treatment plant to ensure potable drinking water can be manufactured during extended periods of time (i.e., greater than 24 hours) when there is no electrical power available; and
•giving cross-training to several Public Works staff to complete maintenance tasks on the water distribution system during periods of minimum staff (this will be co-ordinated immediately among Operations and Facilities management staff).
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•appointed Kathy Egan to the off-leash dog park steering committee;
•approved a report to ensure hourly rental rates for construction equipment and vehicles are in place for a three-year period ending June 15, 2015;
•agreed to authorize a commitment of $15,000 over three years to the Riverside Foundation for Health Care’s “Together We Can” digital mammography fundraising campaign;
•received Minutes of Settlement for properties located at 802 Second St., 1028 Second St. E., 1017 Colonization Rd. W., 1216 Colonization Rd. W., 922 Victoria Ave., 707 Victoria Ave., and 1319 Idylwild Dr.;
•forwarded the Fort Frances Public Library Board’s amended memorandum of understanding document to administration for a thorough review, which then will report back to the Administration and Finance executive committee; and
•approved advertising in 2013 Northwestern Ontario Vacation Guide Map at a cost of $520, plus taxes.