Jonathon Naylor
Editor
Highlights from the Feb. 17 meeting of Flin Flon city council:
United on levy
A vote revealed for the first time that council is unanimous in wanting to resume the city’s special services levy.
Coun. Colleen McKee’s motion to enact the levy in 2015 through to 2018 encountered no opposition.
Though the motion passed first reading, the second and final readings will come at a later date – and only if the Manitoba Municipal Board gives its approval.
Opponents of the levy – designed to raise taxes on low-end properties and reduce taxes on high-end properties – are to share their views with the Municipal Board by March 18.
The previous council had one member, Skip Martin, against the levy. Mayor Cal Huntley, who missed the Feb. 17 meeting, has called the levy “the lesser of two evils” but said he would be open to rethinking it if public opposition is widespread.
Slow down
Council took the first step toward setting reduced speed limits near École McIsaac School and Ruth Betts Community School.
A motion to set a school zone speed limit of 30 km/h passed first reading. Second and final readings are expected to carry as early as March 3.
The Flin Flon school board has asked council to designate the speed limit in areas within 150 metres of the boundaries of McIsaac and Ruth Betts.
If approved, the limit will be in place weekdays from 7 am to 6 pm from June 30 to Sept. 1 of each year.
Provincial amendments established in 2013 gave Manitoba municipalities the authority to set speed limits in school zones.
The section of Green Street near Hapnot Collegiate already has a posted speed limit of
30 km/h.
Continued support
Council voted to contribute $6,166 to the Flin Flon and District Assessment and Referral Service (FFDARS) for 2015.
FFDARS provides services such as counselling, parental support and conflict-resolution programming to employees of its funders.
The City of Flin Flon has long been among those funders, as has Hudbay and other employers in the Flin Flon-Creighton area.
Coun. Karen MacKinnon said FFDARS is opening its doors for more businesses to participate.
A FFDARS representative will talk about that effort at the Feb. 24 Chamber of Commerce meeting, scheduled for noon at the Friendship Centre Restaurant, MacKinnon added.
New employee
Council okayed the hiring of both a new employee and a municipal fuel supplier.
Bill Fulford, a local resident, has been hired as the city’s part-time workplace health and safety contractor.
Coun. Ken Pawlachuk, who made the motion, said Fulford will “help us with safety and health issues.”
Fulford is expected to work an average of 20 hours a week for 45 weeks, from Feb. 18 to Dec. 31. The cost to the city will be $34,200.
Council also awarded to North of 53 Consumers Co-op a contract to supply the city with fuel from March 1, 2015 to Feb. 28, 2016.
The city will buy unleaded gasoline for 79.6 cents a litre, clear diesel fuel for 90.2 cents, coloured diesel fuel for 76.2 cents and no. 2 heating oil for
76.8 cents.
The Co-op’s bid was the lowest, said Coun. Bill Hanson.
Services available
MacKinnon spoke on services available at the Flin Flon Public Library and through the Flin Flon Recycling Centre.
She delivered a verbal report on a recent library board meeting, saying the facility is “on a tight budget but doing very well.”
MacKinnon also shared word that the library offers ebooks, a “great service.”
Regarding the Recycling Centre, MacKinnon said the red bag curbside pick-up program will run every Wednesday in Flin Flon beginning in March.
She said there was a feeling the service was not being fully utilized on a schedule that ran every other week.
“I would like to encourage everybody to use the red bag service,” MacKinnon said.
Red bags can be purchased at the Recycling Centre and other locations throughout the community.
The city-funded recycling trailer at the parking lot of the former Extra Foods building remains available for use, MacKinnon said.
Lastly, MacKinnon announced the Trout Festival will be held from July 1 to 4 this year, with the parade on July 1 as per usual.
