Mayor Cal Huntley says Flin Flon city council has no plans to prohibit right-hand turns at the bottom of two hills on Third Avenue.
A concerned citizen recently spoke with The Reminder about vehicles that travel on Third Avenue when leaving the uptown area and heading toward Ross Lake.
Motorists slow down at the bottom of hills to turn right either onto Ross Street, near the MTS building, or onto Mainwaring Street, near the ambulance station.
The concern relates to vehicles behind those motorists potentially slipping on the steep winter road and causing multiple fender-benders – or worse.
Asked about the matter at Tuesday’s council meeting, Huntley said this concern has not been brought to council.
“There’s no indication that there is a need to change,” he said. “And do you wait for a terrible accident? No, you don’t, but, I mean, our history indicates that it’s a non-issue. So at this point in time it’s not something that I think we would consider.”
Huntley added that motorists should drive in a manner suitable for road conditions.
“If the speed limit’s 40 km/h and the roads are bad, you’re not supposed to be doing 40 km/ h,” he said. “So if we follow the rules, we may not need any new rules.”
Potential renter
Huntley said interested parties have approached the city about renting the former Hobby Shop in the lower level of the Community Hall, but nothing has been finalized.
He said that will be an item of discussion at a meeting next week. He did not say who is interested in renting the space, as additional parties could still step forward.
The city cancelled the lease at the member-run Hobby Shop in 2015 amid dwindling membership, unpaid rent and concerns that members could no longer afford to maintain equipment.
Applicants
Huntley said the municipality has received “reasonable interest” from individuals applying for two pending vacancies within the city management structure.
As The Reminder reported last week, Fire Chief Jim Petrie and city treasurer Glenna Daschuk both plan to retire by the end of the year.
“It’s pretty early in the process, but I think what I can comment is, we’ve been pleased that there has been some reasonable interest so far,” Huntley said.
“We’re hopeful that we’ll get a good group of candidates for both positions and be able to replace some really good employees.”
Tax powers
It may be happening hundreds of kilometres away, but Huntley said he is encouraged by the City of Winnipeg’s quest to acquire new taxation powers.
He and other Manitoba mayors attended Winnipeg mayor Brian Bowman’s state of the city address last week.
Huntley said Winnipeg wants “a kit bag with different methods of taxation” and likened the situation to Flin Flon’s lobbying for the right to apply a base property tax, something provincial law currently forbids.
“It was nice to hear that even if they’re not looking for the same mechanism as us [a base tax],” he said, “the larger communities are approaching the provincial government in line saying, ‘Hey, we need some other [taxation] tools.’
“I was pleased to see that the larger communities are look-ing for fairer methods and different methods to tax.”
Spending
For the third year in a row, council voted to cover the annual insurance bill and registration costs for the Lions Handivan. The tab will be $4,366.
With the help of volunteers, the Handivan provides rides to elderly and mobility challenged residents. Riders are asked to pay a suggested donation.
Council’s motion came after Monica Lone, Lions Club treasurer, wrote to ask if the city would be interested in providing support as it had in 2014 and 2015.
Council also agreed to purchase a banner ad in the next edition of the Hapnot Collegiate yearbook at a cost of $50.
Go team
Speaking on behalf of council, Huntley wished the Flin Flon Bombers good luck heading into the upcoming postseason.
“They’ve got a team that can probably go a distance if…they don’t get too hurt,” he said.
Clad in a Bombers jersey, Huntley said he would continue to wear his jersey to council meetings until the team is done playing hockey – “which I hope is quite a ways down the road.”
He encouraged other members of council to join him in this show of support for the Maroon and White.
