Included at the Ontario Water Works Association Annual Conference May 6 – 9, 2012, was a Water Quality Taste Test Competition. Water samples from across the province were submitted for the attending delegate’s scrutiny to determine the facility that has produced the best tasting water.
It is with congratulatory kudos to the Region of Niagara and their dedicated staff that we are pleased to announce that the Rosehill Water Treatment Plant here in Fort Erie was judged as producing the Best Tasting Water in the Province.
Read entire media release here
Posted in Media Release Water by .
Following a three month wait, the Town has received Justice Hainey’s judgement in the civil suit launched against the Town by six individuals and one corporate entity. Justice Hainey summarily dismissed the claim and ruled in favour of the Town on all points.
The Statement of Claim was filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on April 20, 2011 seeking various declarations arising from the Town’s contractual arrangements with the Molinaro Group with respect to the development of the Crystal Beach Gateway condominiums and improved community space. Arguments were heard by Justice Hainey in Toronto on February 8, 2012.
The Judge’s ruling also awards costs of the litigation process to both the Town, in the amount of $78,524, and the Molinaro Group, in the amount of $57,250.
The Plaintiffs will have 30 days to appeal the judgment however a recent Ottawa ruling, which was relied on in Justice Hainey’s decision, appears to limit the chances of a successful appeal.
Posted in Crystal Beach Condo Project by .
Canadian Niagara Power will be conducting maintenance upgrades to the electrical distribution system in ALL of Fort Erie on Sunday, May 6, 2012 between 2:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. During any emergency situation it is important for you and your family to be self-reliant for 72 hours. The Town, with the assistance of the Niagara Region, has prepared an easy to use booklet outlining what to do during various emergency situations such as flooding, winter storms, power outages, earthquakes, etc. The Region has also provided a pamphlet on food safety that we encourage you to read and keep beside your refrigerator. The Town’s Accessibility Advisory Committee has also included on their web-page an “Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities/Special Needs” created by Emergency Management Ontario which we are also making available
Posted in Emergency by .
Apr 12
28
District Chief Mark Frerotte
It is with profound sadness that the Fort Erie Fire Department announces the sudden and un-expected passing of District Chief Mark Frerotte. District Chief Frerotte died on April 26,2012.
District Chief Frerotte joined the department in April of 1979, was promoted to Deputy District Chief in 1995, and again promoted to District Chief in 1998, a position he held until his passing.
“I have been in the fire service for almost 30 years, have had dealings with thousands of firefighters over this time, and can honestly say that I can not identify another firefighter in the province that had the passion and dedication to the fire service that Mark had. He had the uncanny ability to cut through all of the unimportant stuff and get to the heart of any matter, coming up with practical solutions to any challenge that we faced. Mark was a true fire service leader any way you looked at it, and is going to leave a huge hole in our organization that will be impossible to fill.”
“District Chief Frerotte was instrumental in significant input into the design of the new Central Fire Station, and also was a leader in the concept of co-locating stations one and two into the new building. This will be just one of the many things that he left his mark on.”
In addition to Marks firefighter career, he was a long time employee of the Town of Fort Erie (1975-2007) , and the Town of Pelham (until his passing).
A Fire Department Walkthrough will be held Monday April 30, 2012 at the Benner funeral home 18:30 hrs. Firefighters are asked to muster at the funer home at 18:00 hrs.
http://www.bennerfuneralservices.com/
Fire Chief Larry Coplen
Posted in Fire by .
Apr 12
23
Winter Storm in the Spring !
Didn’t anyone remind Mother Nature that winter storms are supposed to happen in the winter ? Not October and the end of April !.
According to Environment Canada, it looks like we can expect some heavy rain, wet snow, cold temperatures, and high winds over the next day or so. If the wet snow continues, it COULD cause problems when it accumulates on the new leaves on trees, just as it did in October a few years ago. You can track the storm here.
Are you prepared ? Do you have flashlights with fresh batteries, cell phones charged up, battery operated smoke alarms, bottled water, especially for those who are on wells, battery backup systems for home wireless phones, battery or crank operated radios, vehicles fueled up, and the list goes on.
Please take a few minutes to check out http://www.getprepared.gc.ca for some tips on ensuring that you are prepared for any type of emergency.
Also, just a quick heads up, Canadian Niagara Power will be conducting a town wide power shutdown in order to complete some maintenance. This will be happening on Sunday May 6, from 2 A.M., lasting until Sunday morning around 10 A.M. More information will be distributed by CNP and the town over the next couple of weeks.
Submitted By Fire Chief Larry Coplen
Posted in Fire by .
Apr 12
20
Comprehensive Zoning By-law 129-90
Town of Fort Erie staff continually work towards improving the Town’s Comprehensive Zoning By-law 129-90 through annual housekeeping amendments to the document. The intent of a housekeeping amendment is to ensure that the Comprehensive Zoning By-law is up to date with new legislation and policy, to clarify intent of regulations and correct any textual or mapping errors. The last housekeeping amendment was passed by Town Council on November 14, 2011 and included 43 updates to the document. Included in these updates was an overhaul to all the zoning maps of Schedule ‘A’, triggered by a switch in the Town’s Corporate GIS mapping program which is used to create the zoning maps in Schedule ‘A’.
Click here to view the Town’s Comprehensive Zoning By-law 129-90 web page
Posted in General by .
With the approval by Regional Council in the Fall of 2011 and the appeal period now expired, the Town’s new Official Plan is now in force and effect except for two areas currently under appeal. The two areas under appeal are regarding land use designations and policies with the Bridgeburg Secondary Plan area and proposed urban boundary expansion area (Site Specific Policy Area No. 11 on Schedule A).
Click here to view the Town’s Official Plan web page
Posted in General by .
Apr 12
12
Rural Address Sign Program Update
It is essential that emergency personnel are able to find your residence, when you call for help. Firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and utility staff all require that your address be displayed in a prominent area, in order to ensure that we can find you.
The Town of Fort Erie has an ongoing program to install address signs on most properties in the rural area of the town, as well as select urban addresses. These signs are critical in ensuring that we can find you in a timely manner.
The signs are being installed by town employees, on town property near the driveway. The signs are a consistent size and colour, and are installed in the same location on each property, in proximity to driveways. There is no cost to the homeowner.
We have found that a small number of individuals remove the signs, shortly after they are installed. The unauthorized removal of any sign from municipal property may result in the homeowner being assessed a cost to re-install the sign, and criminal charges may be laid. The signs are mandatory as required by emergency services.
Please ensure that rural address signs installed by the Town are visible from the road at all times. If you find that yours has been removed, please contact the Operations Department at 905-871-1600 x2463.
If you have any questions about this important project, please contact Fire Chief Larry Coplen at 905-871-1600 x 2600.
Posted in Fire by .
An interview with CBC television about the closing of the Fort Erie Race track turned into a rally at Town Hall. Many members of the public turned out to show support for the track, which is threatened by the the Provinces move to pull out slot machines.The event lasted roughly 30 minutes.
The mayor began by stating “Thank you all for coming today. It is national news that the Province of Ontario has decided to close a number of OLG Slot facilities across the Province. It is national news that first to go is Fort Erie, Windsor and Sarnia.
But I want to tell the public at large why for Fort Erie this is just plain wrong, and for how long we have been trying to get this message across to the Province.”
To read the full transcript click here.
Posted in Horse Racing Media Release by .
Mar 12
14
Fort Erie Slots to Close
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) met with the Mayor and Town Officials at Town Hall this morning to confirm the closure of Fort Erie Slots on April 30, 2012. The OLG representatives met with their Fort Erie staff earlier in the morning to make this announcement. Slots have been operating in Fort Erie for 13 years.
Approximately 220 OLG jobs will be affected in Fort Erie. Approximately 100 Fort Erie Race Track jobs will also be affected. The Province has committed to maintain their financial support to the Town for 12 months from the closure date with the funding amount equal to that of the previous 12 months. The Province will also maintain their financial commitment to the Fort Erie Race Track to the end of 2012 contingent that horse racing continues.
Windsor and Sarnia horse track sites received the same message today.
Mayor Doug Martin is trying to make sense of the government’s new gaming and lottery plan entitled “Modernizing Lottery and Gaming in Ontario.” He reflected how devastating it would be to his community. Given the impact, he questioned why the Province was moving in this direction rather than attempting to formulate alternate plans with its partners. “This Government seems to be heading in its own direction with no consultation and no concerns about the number of bodies it leaves in its wake.”
Jim Thibert, representing both the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium and the Fort Erie Economic Development and Tourism Corporation was present at the meeting and confirmed that “racing will continue through 2012 at the Fort Erie Racetrack”.
Ron Tripp, Acting Chief Administrative Officer for the Town stated “It is very difficult not to be discouraged right now. It seems the harder the Town tries managing through these difficult economic times, the more challenges we face. Now we need to consider not only directly impacted families within our community, but also the $1.3 million of annual budget support associated with the slots and the over $0.7 million of property taxation and user fee revenue associated with the site.”
Mayor Martin and Mr. Tripp confirmed that work will begin immediately with Council and staff to evaluate the long term financial position of the Town and to formulate a go forward plan.
For more information, contact
Ron Tripp,
Acting Chief Administrative Officer
905.871.1600 Ext. 2400
rtripp@forterie.on.ca
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Weather for Fort Erie Today Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday 
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