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.
Like many residents, Flin Flon City Councillor Nazir Ahmad sees the Flintoba Shopping Centre as a positive step forward for the community. But there's one change he'd like to see made. At Tuesday's Council meeting, the councillor said he has concerns about the safety of shoppers walking from one store to another, as they must make their way across parking lots and a road. He also feels it would be more convenient if shoppers did not have to venture outdoors on cold winter days. "It's very inconvenient and difficult to walk from store to store, and unsafe, particularly for the elderly and mothers with children," said the councillor. "It's a safety factor, it's a convenience factor, it's a comfort factor." His proposed remedy is an enclosed walkway to connect the different stores, although he knows it would be up the site developers, Winnipeg-based Kraft Construction, to make this idea a reality. Councillor Ahmad suggested that Mayor Dennis Ballard use his influence and contacts with Kraft to bring up this "common sense" concept. The mayor responded by saying "We can always ask." Councillor Ahmad said that Kraft could always expand on the walkway idea and include stores alongside. He mentioned that one of the key ideas of the original shopping mall concept in the 1970s was to have the entire facility enclosed. When asked how confident he was that a walkway might be constructed, Ahmad said that a lot of things are accomplished by talking to people and coming up with practical solutions to problems. Councillor Ahmad also complimented the mayor and the incumbent councillors for their work on making the shopping centre a reality. See 'Topics' P.# Con't from P.# "This is something I think our people have wanted it, needed it, for a long, long time," he said. In another matter, Councillor Cal Huntley asked that residents try not to leave their vehicles running in residential areas, saying "in certain cases, how air enters the buildings is sometimes greatly affected when vehicles are parked closely to residential areas, and exhaust gets sucked into the homes." Councillor Huntley said that motorists are often tempted to leave their vehicles running if it is cold out and their stop is going to be brief. "It's something that a lot of us do, and I'm as guilty as the rest them," he said. "I don't think we can pass a by-law telling people not to leave their vehicles running or anything like that, but I would just ask that the general public be conscious of this." Also, Councillor Huntley made a motion to adopt a new mission statement as the official Workplace Safety and Health policy for the City. His motion passed, and the mission statement reads as follows: "On work sites of the City of Flin Flon, the health and safety of our employees comes first. Management is committed to prevent injuries and to maintain a healthy work environment. To this end, the City of Flin Flon is committed to maintaining a Workplace Safety and Health program to ensure the goals of this policy. All City employees must integrate good workplace safety and health practices into their daily activities. All employees are required to support the Workplace Safety and Health program. Managers are responsible for enhancing safety and health consciousness. Supervisors must ensure their employees are trained in safe and healthy work procedures to obtain optimal output without accident and injuries. All employees are accountable for implementing this program." A recap of other matters from the Council meeting: Council voted to take out a 2004 membership with the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce for $350. Councillor Therien agreed to continue to be the City's representative at the Chamber meetings. Councillors Huntley and Law expressed interest in attending the upcoming Manitoba Airport Operators Committee meeting next week in Brandon. Those at the meeting will discuss airport issues to be brought forth in government lobbying efforts.
