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: I don't want to be a Grinch, but are my taxes paying for all the lights and big displays at the Station Museum? If so, what is the cost to taxpayers and is this something that is more appropriate for fundraising to pay for? Mayor Therien: Thank you for pointing out the Station Museum and all the lights and displays. What an absolutely great job done again this year. I would like to thank all those involved: enough cannot be said for the job you guys do and continue to do. What a great way to show off the season and our civic pride. Having said that, your question was in regards to costs to our taxpayers and whether fundraising would be the way to go to cover costs. Yes, there is a cost to our taxpayers for the power to run the lights, but if you break it down to the individual taxpayer, the cost is minimal. I guess if truth were to be told, most costs to run the museum, period, are paid for by our taxpayers, as well they should be. In one small area you have a vast array of our past for all to see and, believe me, a lot of people go through that museum. Now back to the lights. Are they not absolutely beautiful? Kind of takes my breath away, and the reaction of the children is priceless. * * * Question: More than three years ago now, we wrote to the city to ask them to tear down the abandoned house on South Main Street beside the automotive shop, because we were worried about kids going in there and starting fires or using drugs. Why hasn't this hazard been removed? Mayor Therien: Believe me when I say we would love to tear this house down, but the problem lies in its location. As the house sits in the Province of Saskatchewan, we have to apply to this province to take possession of this house, and that is not easy. Manitoba rules are so much easier when it comes to derelict buildings. It is not to say we will never get possession of this property, but if you remember a similar house on South Hudson, it took the City of Flin Flon quite a number of years to eventually get title to this property and then take the house down. * * * 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 0T2. No names are required. Ask the Mayor runs Mondays.
