Priority given to finishing waterfront trail (Council wrap)

Council gave its stamp of approval last night to the Sault Ste. Marie Trails Master Plan.

The plan for a comprehensive system of multi-use trails is by no means a final document.

"The trail is only final once it is physically placed in its designated green space," the plan states.

"Up until that point, any comments or concerns are welcome as the trails will be there for everyone's enjoyment."

The first priority identified is finishing the waterfront walkway, which currently runs from the Great Lakes Power generating plant to City Hall.

Last year, the City set aside $650,000 to extend the boardwalk to the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre.

When completed, the waterfront walkway will go to Bellevue Park and then to Pinewood Public School and White Pines Collegiate and Vocational School.

The City is also trying to spruce up Clergue Park and an attempt might be made to use some of the $650,000 allocated for this year's boardwalk expansion to lever additional government grants for the park project.

Arena build to start in Spring of 2004

Shovels are expected to be in the ground at the site of a Memorial Gardens replacement building by early spring of 2004, Mayor John Rowswell said last night.

Last night, City Council agreed to hire architecture and design firm IBI Group to find a private-sector partner for the new structure, to be built downtown adjacent to the present Gardens.

IBI, which will receive as much as $100,000 for its participation, should know by the third or fourth week of March whether a partner can be found.

It the company is successful, a proposal call will be issued this fall, councillors were told.

Council won't trust Sault Star

City Council doesn't quite believe a recent Sault Star report that Sault MP Carmen Provenzano thinks a transpolar business plan should be in place before any further federal money is given to the venture.

Last night, Council was asked to approve a resolution calling on Ontario Premier Ernie Eves and Prime Minister Jean Chretien to give conditional support for the new airport infrastructure needed for transpolar flights.

But part of the resolution was based on a Sault Star article, prompting Ward 2 Councillor Brady Irwin to ask that it be tabled until people can check with Provenzano to find out whether he actually said what the newspaper reported.

In a separate motion, Council voted to post executive summaries of two reports from the City's transpolar consultant on the City of Sault Ste. Marie website.

Fratesi sets Doug Millroy straight

Council agreed last night to have City staff review the way they retain professional services.

Ward One Councillors David Orazietti and James Caicco had called for the review, pointing out that major contracts are sometimes awarded for engineering, legal and architectural services without tenders or proposal calls.

Staff will find out how such services are retained in other communities of similar size, and report back to Council with suggestions on how such contracts should be awarded here.

Joe Fratesi, the City's chief administrative officer, spoke up about Doug Millroy's Saturday column in the Sault Star about the issue.

"I want to assure him and all the public that at no time has staff recommended the awarding of work on the basis of who they like," the CAO said.

Tax break recommended for airport

Council agreed to ask the Ontario Government to free Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corp. from its obligation to pay education taxes.

CAO Fratesi commented that the Government is likely to look favourably on the request.

The airport is concerned that 18 percent of its total revenues are going to municipal and education taxes.

Passenger levels are expected to take seven to 10 years to regain their 1999 peak of 170,000, and the airport says it should be put in a tax category similar to that of the International Bridge, which pays only the general municipal rate, not education taxes.

Don't speed on Reid

The intersection of Reid Street and Wawanosh Avenue is drawing attention from City Council.

At the urging of Councillor Neil DelBianco and his Ward 4 colleague Lou Turco, council voted to have City staff investigate whether any action can be taken to reduce speeding and accidents in the area.