A busy year ahead for Fort Frances

Fort Frances council will soon resume their budget discussions.

Council approved the capital budget in December.

The focus in the new year will be on the operating side.

Mayor Andrew Hallikas says several uncontrollable factors will impact the final numbers.

“Cost of living is up. There’s the increased cost of negotiated wages that occur in contracts that have several years to run. Insurance costs are up, cost of organizations that the town is mandated to support. We are levied by the DSSAB (District of Rainy River Services Board). Their costs are up. So that makes our costs go up. Northwestern Health Unit costs are up. The cost of policing tends to go up, and we have no control over those. So that concerns me,” says Hallikas.

Hallikas says there is also a need to replenish reserve funds used to offset some of the capital spending.

There is also a mandated asset management plan that has to be funded every year with large capital costs on the horizon as the town prepares for the replacement of aging infrastructure and facilities.

Another focus will be the development of the former mill properties.

“I want to make sure that the cleanup of the mill yard continues to completion. And then the really big thing is the development of that mill yard. That could really put us back on the map.”

Hallikas is also hopes for development starting at the former Shevlin woodyard and the gateway project in the downtown core.

“We need continued economic development for Fort Francis. We need to attract new businesses and industry. I’m really pleased with our new economic development officer hire, who is just beginning to start work. I’m very optimistic about that. I want to see us continue to work and form partnerships with district First Nations, and we need to move forward on truth and reconciliation. And I want to see us do more work, more cooperation with the other municipalities in the district.”

Hallikas says he also wants to work with senior levels of government on issues like housing and addictions.

“Those are major problems that no municipality can solve on their own. No matter how many volunteers we have, and no matter how many well-meaning people, the bottom line on those problems is that it takes intervention of government at all levels.”