The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Question: Since provincial tests show the city is no longer able to supply our residents with drinking water that passes all of the health quality tests, will council consider a discount for ratepayers on their water bills? Why or why not? Mayor Therien: First, the quality of our water is only an issue a couple of days a year, not every day. As we have said before, we are complying with the request to put a water treatment plant in because we will be regulated to do so anyway in the very near future. This should alleviate any days of possible water problems. The question of discounting our current service, although an interesting idea, is not something the city can do. Again, as has been said in the past, this service has to be self-sufficient and cannot be subsidized by taxation. The delivery of water, et al, is extremely expensive regardless of the sub-par quality our water may be at very minimal times. * * * Question: My question is, is there anything the city can do about the unused property on Main St., such as the old Flin Flon Hotel, so it can be put to use? Mayor Therien: This has been a question council has had to deal with for a very long time now. As you may have guessed, there appears to be no clear solution other than time. On a positive note, the former Mr. Ribs site will be, probably, transposed into a very nice park in the near future. We have to tip our hats off to those who have invested time and money into bringing new businesses to Main Street, or improving existing businesses. The vacant properties and/or businesses continue to be marketed, but to no avail as yet. This leads us to the Flin Flon Hotel. I really do not know what to tell you other than it has an owner who continues to pay the taxes applicable and, as such, there is nothing we can do as a city council but watch it sit vacant year after year after year. This part of your question should be directed at the owner, I am afraid, and not city council. * * * Send your questions for Mayor Therien to The Reminder by phone at 687-3454, fax at 687-4473, e-mail at [email protected] or standard delivery at "Ask the Mayor," C/O The Reminder, 14 North Avenue, Flin Flon, R8A OT2. No names are required. Ask the Mayor runs Mondays.
