FORT FRANCES – The Town of Fort Frances has issued the following statement on the ongoing situation with Resolute Forest Products:
The Town of Fort Frances, in protection of our community, has informed Resolute Forest Products that we will invoke our site plan control process if a demolition company takes ownership of our Mill. Through the site plan control process, we will require any owner, prior to demolition, to provide the Town with a line of credit that Administration is recommending be no less than $20 million, to ensure that the process is completed with minimal impact to our community.
Town Administration is also recommending a series of third-party professional studies to be completed with respect to historic, engineering and environmental aspects. The Town will take proactive steps to ensure the sites be aesthetically pleasing, safe, healthy, and functional after a demolition process.
We understand that our needs to protect this community will cause a proponent to invest significant time and capital upfront in this project, but we believe the best outcome for our community is to hold any redevelopment company to the highest standards. These proactive steps will protect our town from the unfortunate disasters that happened in communities like Red Rock and Iroquois Falls when they lost their major industries. As such, the Town will institute every safeguard and insist on every necessary step to ensure a positive outcome for our community and its residents.
