Highlights from Tuesday’s Flin Flon city council meeting:
Cracking down
Council voted to strengthen a bylaw that targets residents whose plants and trees illegally encroach onto public property.
In cases where a homeowner ignores orders to remove the offending vegetation, the city has long had the ability to remove it for them and apply the labour costs to their tax bill.
The difference now is that the city has the power to go after that homeowner to recoup the costs even if the individual was planning to walk away from the property, as has happened in the past.
“Once they owe the money, whether they walk from the property or not, they owe the money,” said Coun. Bill Hanson.
The bylaw around vegetation states “no person shall plant or place to be planted or placed, any tree, shrub, hedge or other object that will, or any part thereof that will, encroach upon or overhang a municipal road.”
Sign language
Council agreed to contact Hudson Bay Railway regarding stop signs affixed to the rail crossing lights on Third Avenue on Tuesday.
Mayor Cal Huntley said the city did not put up the signs but would be asking why they were there and how long they would be in place, adding a public notice might have to go out.
Coun. Ken Pawlachuk said his understanding was that the stop signs were needed because the crossing lights
were not working.
City wants say
Huntley announced the city has informed Canada Post that if and when it installs community mailboxes in Flin Flon, the municipality wants to have a say in where they go.
He said the city had not yet received a response from the Crown corporation but would be keeping the public informed of the situation.
Canada Post has said in media interviews that it does consult with municipalities on where to put community mailboxes, which are due to come to Flin Flon by late 2018 as door-to-door delivery is phased out.
Reap what you snow
Huntley announced the city is not planning any changes to its Main Street snow-removal program.
This came after resident Randy Daneliuk asked whether the “very fantastic job” the city has done on Main Street over the past couple of years would continue.
Chief Administrative Officer Mark Kolt said the city has been lucky so far this winter in that the amounts of snow have been manageable, but he did knock on the wood of the council table to emphasize this could change.
Christmas spirit
Huntley spoke on his attendance at last week’s Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at Pioneer Square.
“It was overwhelming to see the place full like that,” he said.
Coun. Karen MacKinnon also thanked all who attended the event, which showcased the harmonious voices of local students and members of the Flin Flon Community Choir.
