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.
Jonathon Naylor Editor They say a few bad apples shouldn't spoil the whole bunch, but that is precisely what could happen for Flin Flonners who drive all-terrain vehicles in city limits. Mayor George Fontaine has raised the spectre of in-town quad privileges being revoked if some drivers continue to behave irresponsibly. 'We've had a pretty good history of the use of quads in town, but recently we've been having some real complaints about people driving in silly ways and also driving in our parks,' he said at last week's city council meeting. 'We were very clear when we brought in the law allowing quads in the community that if the rules weren't adhered to that that law allowing it would be revoked.' 'Some control' Mayor Fontaine said he 'would like to remind parents _ because I don't think it's adults doing this _ to make sure that they have some control of their kids that they're letting go on machines like this.' 'Because if this continues, the entire community will feel the effect of us rescinding the (quad routes),' he said. 'That was what we said when we (allowed quads) and our intention would be exactly to do that. So control your kids if you want to keep the rights you have. They were brought in on a promise that people would do just that and we're expecting that promise to be upheld.' Flin Flon RCMP Staff Sgt. Wayne Foster said the detachment has not received any more quad-related complaints this year over last. The number is about the same, though not every complaint necessarily goes to the police. See 'Comp...' on pg. 3 Continued from pg. 1 Staff Sgt. Foster said the ATV complaints police field normally involve high speeds on streets. He said the intent of the bylaw permitting quads is to give drivers access to trails outside city limits. Staff Sgt. Foster said that sometimes complaints to police involve youth operators, but sometimes they do not. The previous city council voted in 2009 to permit ATVs on designated routes within Flin Flon. This came after quad drivers made a pitch for the privilege, arguing that having to load quads onto a trailer to take them in and out of town was cumbersome and unnecessary. Maps of designated quad routes are available at City Hall. Other highlights from last week's meeting: Coun. Ken Pawlachuk urged residents trucking garbage to the Flin Flon landfill to ensure the trash is properly secured so it does not blow or fall out of the vehicle. 'People in Channing (near the landfill) are complaining, and rightly so,' he said. 'It's just a common courtesy that people should be covering their garbage. Tie it down somehow.' Mayor Fontaine complimented everyone involved in the recent Royal Weekend celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. 'They were absolutely phenomenal, and we were lucky to have participation from some of the highest levels of the province,' he said. Coun. Karen MacKinnon also praised the event and the 'terrific' level of community support involved. Coun. MacKinnon spoke about representing the city at the Flin Flon Lions Club's recent supper and auction. She said the Lions are a smaller group now but continue to do many great things for the community. Coun. MacKinnon spoke on attending the recent banquet for the Manitoba Mine Rescue Competition, held in Flin Flon. She said the competition was an interesting event and congratulated the Hudbay Flin Flon team on taking first place. Coun. Pawlachuk reminded the public about the Flin Flon Fire Department's 75th Anniversary Social, slated for June 30. 'A lot of the old firemen are coming back,' he said. 'It's just a chance to honour some well-respected people in our community.' Mayor Fontaine commended Hapnot Collegiate teacher Robyne Mansell and the three students she accompanied to a recent 'green mining' symposium at Hamilton's McMaster University. 'It's nice to see that some of our teachers are recognizing, in the schools, that this (industry) is what feeds our community and that they're getting some opportunity to find out what it would be like to earn a living (in mining),' he said. Joining Mansell were Beverly Hiebert, Crystal Hiebert and Sandra Kritzer. Coun. Colleen McKee presented a series of motions required to pass the proposed new municipal budget into law. More readings will be required at the next council meeting. As previously reported, the budget maintains last year's residential tax rate while slightly lowering the commercial rate.
