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: Are you and council worried about the increasing numbers of residents now relying on the food bank? Instead of putting so much money into cosmetic things such as bumpy roads next budget, will the city find some money to help subsidize the food bank to aid our less fortunate citizens? If not, what measures will the city undertake to help address this problem? Mayor Therien: Council of the City of Flin Flon have no connection to the food bank and the services it provides. This is a very private matter between itself and the clients it services, as it should be. For that matter, welfare has not been administered by the city for a number of years now. All welfare is handled by the Province of Manitoba and, again, is a very private issue between those who administer the program and the clients who need their services. At this time, the food bank continues to stay open and when they find themselves in need of food stock, they are able to use the media to ask for donations, etc. When they do, the great people of this area come through with donations to keep them going. The unfortunate thing is there is a need for a food bank in Flin Flon. The fortunate thing is there is a food bank with volunteers to operate it for those who, unfortunately, require their services. * * * Question: My question for Mr. Therien is, why does the city not follow the lead of other places and sell residential lots for $1? Would the tax revenue derived not make up for the cheap price? I saw where you wouldn't sell a lot on First Avenue for a lower price and it still sits empty, so was that decision really worth it? Mayor Therien: This is a question we get asked a lot. One first needs to ask a couple of questions as to why a community would sell a lot for $1. The answers may vary depending on what community you are talking about. In the case of Creighton, the lots on Collins Street were not house-ready lots and required a lot of fill to make it so. Add the cost of the fill to the cost of the lot and that is what the actual lot cost you to put your house on it. How does this compare to our lots in terms of dollars spent? As a council, and I must say with great debate, we have chosen to continue to offer lots at market value and over the past couple of years have sold as many lots this way as has Creighton for $1. We have made adjustments to lot prices depending on location and/or the shape the lot is in, but to sell lots for $1 is not something we will offer as yet. * * * 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 Ave., Flin Flon, MB, R8A OT2. Ask the Mayor runs Mondays.
