Flin Flon city council is clarifying the terms under which it can order a building town down.
At their Tuesday, Oct. 18 meeting, council approved final reading of a maintenance by-law amendment.
“It’s a question of trying to improve on the language that was in the existing bylaw, which goes back to the early 1980s or before, and just the way that people talk and think about things have evolved a little bit since that time,” said Mark Kolt, the city’s chief administrative officer, in a subsequent interview. “And so we wanted to clarify what the process would be in terms of the factors that one could take into account when one is making an order for demolition… (and) danger to the public is part of it, but you don’t have to prove that (a building) is going to fall down tomorrow, just that there’s a reasonable danger of it falling down.”
In such situations, the city can now intervene.
The bylaw also now allows the city to consider factors such as the likelihood of an unsound building being repaired. Kolt said repairs would be unlikely, for instance, in a case where a building would only be worth another $20,000 if it underwent $100,000 worth of work.
Street light
Council will decide whether to have another streetlight installed in Channing following a request from a concerned resident.
Heather Werry asked for a streetlight at the first right turn off of Flin Flon Highway, on the side street going toward Davenport Street.
“There is no lighting along this side road (and) it is a safety concern and extremely dark,” Werry wrote in a letter.
Council had no comment on the letter, referring it to the Engineering Services Committee for further review.
Shoveling request
Following this month’s heavy, sudden snowfall, Mayor Cal Huntley encouraged residents to maintain as clear a path as possible to their garbage bins.
“If (waste-management workers) can’t get to it, they can’t open it,” he said.
Huntley remarked on the surprising volume of snow that has fallen.
“I’ve lived here my whole life. I’ve never experienced this kind of snowfall,” he said.
Coun. Colleen McKee said an 81-year-old neighbour of hers, who was born in Flin Flon, told her she has never seen snowfall like this, either.
“It’s pretty monumental,” said McKee.
Miscellaneous
Council voted to donate $150 and the cost of gas for four vehicles to the Manitoba Emergency Assistance Association. The funding will support MEAA’s patrols on Halloween to help ensure a safe day of trick-or-treating.
Council voted to purchase a $55 wreathe to lay at the Royal Canadian Legion’s upcoming Remembrance Day service. A member of council will lay the wreathe.
Council will also donate use of the city hall boardroom to this year’s Operation Red Nose campaign, a volunteer initiative that provides safe rides home to holiday revellers unfit to go behind the wheel.
