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: What's the point of keeping the Whitney Forum staffed/lit/open during the many days when there are no public events going on or not even a Bomber practice? If the answer is because of the walking loop, do the costs justify this given the public's many other walking options? If we're that hard up for a place to walk, could we not just designate the community auditorium (also staffed/open when nothing is going on) as the walking place to save money? Will council evaluate this costly situation? Mayor Therien: I am sure there are a lot of people who are of the same opinion as yourself and, although I understand your concerns, there is a lot more to this than what you are seeing. What you are suggesting is that the rink and the Community Hall should only be open when someone rents the facility, and the rest of the time it should remain closed. First, the Community Hall houses the offices of the city recreation coordinator, the Junior Bombers, the Arts Council, and the Flin Flon seniors. There are others who use the hall as well. As long as there is someone in the building, we are required to have an available staff member. This person, usually the custodian, is responsible for the general maintenance of the building (cleaning, minor repairs, etc.) as well as setting up the hall for the user groups. You could use the same argument about the Whitney Forum as well. For one, we do not employ a lot of full-time employees at the forum. Regardless of whether there is someone using the services, there is always the need to keep the building in an acceptable condition. This includes cleaning and general maintenance to the building and all the equipment we have in the building. I could go on. In general, there is a cost to the taxpayer when it comes to recreation and at a cost that greatly exceeds the revenue we receive in return. We are not alone when it comes to that as most, if not all, communities experience the same problems. Do we look to cut costs? Yes we do, but it is not as easy as you may think it is. Since you asked, the rink is not open just so people can walk the track, but I am glad the service is available as there are lots of people who use this service. * * * Question: If I see someone breaking a city by-law, is there someone at City Hall to go and have that person charged or is it a police matter? Mayor Therien: I guess the easy answer for you is to tell anyone at City Hall what you saw in terms of breaking a city by-law, and they can determine what needs to be done and who needs to be contacted. Thank you for this question. By-laws are such a difficult thing to administer, at the best of times, but infractions to these by-laws need to be addressed and we can only do so with your help. * * * 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.
