By approving an option agreement Tuesday, Flin Flon city council continued the process of transferring the former armoury property to North of 53 Consumers Co-op.
Mark Kolt, the city’s chief administrative officer, said the option agreement will provide for the transfer of the land in the course of time rather than right away.
He said option agreements generally govern the sale of municipal land. The agreements are contingent on a certain amount of construction being completed prior to the actual transfer of a property.
The Co-op plans to build a new store on the armoury property. Kolt said it’s his understanding the Co-op will proceed within the deadlines set out by the option agreement, so no
“hiccups” are expected along the way.
The agreement follows a previous “pre-purchase” deal between the city and Co-op, Kolt said. That arrangement allowed the
Co-op to buy the land from the city once the city acquired it from the province.
Coun. Bill Hanson said option agreements that mandate site development are standard whenever cities sell land.
He said the agreements prevent people from buying a piece of land for the purpose of selling it at a profit once it appreciates.
“It removes it out of speculators’ hands,” Hanson said.
Awards
Coun. Colleen McKee congratulated municipal workers who were honoured at the city’s employee recognition banquet held over the weekend.
Awards went to Ray Lavis (Flin Flon Municipal Airport, 25 years), Michelle Flick (Works and Operations, 10 years), Jon Smalley (Works and Operations, 10 years), Lyle Toffan (Works and Operations, 10 years), Shari Odut (RCMP Detachment, five years), Regan Bailey (Works and Operations, five years), Katie Kozak (Aqua Centre, five years) and Amanda Link-Labarre (Aqua Centre, five years).
Stop signs
There are no further plans to change South Hudson Street’s four-way stop, Mayor Cal Huntley told neighbourhood resident Cathy Daneliuk.
Daneliuk attended the meeting to ask whether the removal of two of the four stop signs – a proposal that passed first reading but failed on second reading – would be looked at again.
Huntley said council had not had a chance to discuss the matter since the second reading failed. He said there is nothing on the books regarding a change at this time.
Daneliuk had attended a previous council meeting to urge council to maintain the four-way stop as a safety measure.
Crime Stoppers
They say crime doesn’t pay, but council didn’t mind paying to deter and solve crime.
Council voted to donate $563.40 – the standard
10 cents per capita – to the Manitoba Crime Stoppers program for 2017.
Council has long supported Crime Stoppers, which offers cash rewards for information leading to convictions in crimes as serious as homicide and as common as vandalism.
“These funds will be used to assist us in paying some of the costs of website maintenance and office costs,” wrote Crime Stoppers chairwoman
Val Laurie in a letter requesting the funding.
Mayor’s comments
Huntley congratulated newly elected municipal council members in Creighton and
Denare Beach.
“I think they’ve got a good group of people and we look forward to working with them,” he said, referring to last week’s municipal elections in the neighbouring communities.
Huntley noted that Denare Beach mayor
Carl Lentowicz’s reelection means there is continuity for the new economic development initiative being operated jointly by Flin Flon, Creighton and Denare Beach.
“[I’m] very pleased about that,” he said.
Huntley reported that Monday appeared to be a safe and quiet Halloween in Flin Flon, adding he had not heard of any mischief taking place.
The mayor addressed the ongoing sunless weather of late, saying he hopes for and welcomes the nicer weather in the forecast.
“It sure would be nice because I know when it’s grey all the time, it affects you, it really does,” Huntley said. “People’s tempers are a little shorter and you have less patience, and so it would be nice to see some sun. We’re not used to that period of grey.”
Odds and ends
Council approved a variation order to allow the construction of a deck at 200 Whitney Street, the former St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church that is now a private residence.
Hanson said the order will not affect the street or anyone’s line of sight.
Due to how the building is situated on the property, Hanson said council has had to approve a number of variation orders for the former church.
Council reviewed October’s animal control report, which noted that two dogs were captured. Both were turned over to the SPCA.
Coun. Guy Rideout commended city crews and contractors for their snow-clearing efforts during October’s abrupt, heavy snowfall.
Coun. Tim Babcock called last weekend’s local production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show “fabulous,” saying he preferred it to the original film version.
Council surprised Rideout with a cake and a rendition of “Happy Birthday” in honour of the rookie councillor’s 56th birthday.
