Anyone wanting to post a notice on public property in Flin Flon will now need to purchase a permit before posting.
At the Flin Flon City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 19, council unanimously voted to pass By-law no. 2016-08, which outlines new practices around posters and signs on public property, including telephone and light standards, utility boxes and other structures on public land.
For a fee of $20, individuals can purchase a temporary signage permit valid for no more than 60 days; permits for less than seven days can be purchased for $10. Chief administrative officer Mark Kolt noted that one permit would be valid for multiple signs with the same content.
Permits can be issued to candidates running for election, garage sales and non-profit community events or fundraisers.
According to the wording of the bylaw, businesses will not be able to acquire permits for posters: “No permit under this by-law shall be granted for any temporary sign whose purpose is solely to advertise a commercial venture, or to further a political cause or public issue outside of an approved election period.”
In a later conversation with The Reminder, Kolt noted that it will likely take some time for public behaviour to change around the posting of notices in the community.
“We appreciate that before we get full compliance with [the by-law], there is going to have to be some public education about what the rules are, and that will be part of the process,” said Kolt.
