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.
A group hoping to erect a pro-life billboard along Highway 10A has responded to Flin Flon City Council's concerns about the proposal. At their regular meeting Tuesday, the councillors reviewed a letter from Marilyn Jackson of Flin Flon Pro-Life, which recently requested permission to put up the sign. Coun. Dave Law said previously that he is worried the 20-ft. by 10-ft. sign would negatively alter the look of "a very attractive" area of City-owned grassland behind St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church. See 'Further' P.# Con't from P.# In her letter, Jackson responded that the land, although municipally owned, is maintained by the church at its expense. "If allowed to build the billboard, we would continue to ensure that the area would be attractive," wrote Jackson, who is affiliated with the church. "The billboard site could be made even more attractive by planting flowers, shrubs, etc. ? again at our expense." Coun. Law had also indicated concern about the sign being overly large and interfering with the sight line of residents. Jackson wrote that the sign would be the same size as the existing billboards in town and that neighbourhood residents won't be able to see it from their homes because the church would block their view. In response to the letter, Coun. Cal Huntley said he's spoken with some citizens who don't believe the location is suitable. "...I have been approached by several community members with regards to placement of a billboard there," he said, "and they really think that with the crosswalk right at Centre St. and a billboard over there, that . . . it would really start to get busy and distracting in a dangerous area of town where there's a lot of people walking, so they have voiced that concern to me." Council referred Jackson's letter to the Committee of the Whole for further discussion. Flin Flon Pro-Life recently announced it wanted to erect a billboard ? likely carrying the message "Life: what a beautiful choice" or something similar ? on the south side of Highway 10A across from the parking lot entrance to Many Faces Education Centre. The group, which would own the sign, likes the location due to the high traffic volume. If the group can't secure permission to go with that location, it has said it will seek alternative sites until the sign goes up.
