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.
If not an eventful year, it's certainly been an interesting one in Flin Flon politics. Here is a look back at some of the stories from City Hall that have made headlines in 2003. In February, Mayor Dennis Ballard thanked whomever mailed him a $500 donation for the Flin Flon Station Museum. The mayor received the letter and cash from an anonymous sender. "It's one of those human interest things, it's one of those things that just wouldn't happen very often," commented Ballard. In April, the City's 2003 financial plan called for $414,000 in capital expenditures while only taxing residents an extra $1.26 per $10,000 value of their home. Approved capital projects included $260,000 to pave and build a sidewalk on Murton Boulevard, and $60,000 for a software upgrade at City Hall. In August, Council voted to apply to join the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, hoping the move would help address cross-border issues. Mayor Ballard said Council often "can't seem to get anywhere" on cross-border issues and that the membership would help in that regard. A total of 267 people reside in Flin Flon, Saskatchewan. Also in August, Council voted to pay the upfront costs to have the new Flin Flon coins minted. The City will be repaid by the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce, which initiated the coin project. In September, Council was asked in writing to follow Winnipeg's lead and implement a public smoking ban. Councillor Cal Huntley said the issue has been brought to Council's attention "on numerous occasions." "We've often said that probably, it would be something that maybe should wait until there's a provincial mandate with regards to that," he said. "But it certainly seems that communities are (implementing laws) on their own and it may be something we should consider discussing, for sure." In October, the mayor and some members of Council encouraged the public to help police curb a wave of vandalism. "Whatever we do is going to have to be a community effort," said the mayor. "If people say, 'City Council handle it' or 'The police handle it,' it doesn't happen that way." "I really think it's going to take... people in the community with watchful eyes, and when they see something to actually report it, because obviously, the police aren't going to be everywhere all the time," added Councillor Huntley. Also in October, Council publicly weighed in on the proposed Creighton high school, and no one at the table supported the concept. "We're in a small enough community, and all we seem to focus on is this stupid border," said Councillor Tom Therien. "It really disappoints me to see this happen right now," added Mayor Ballard. "All I hope is, whatever decision is made Ñ and I'm not going to tell anybody what they have to do Ñ that they take a good hard long look and sit down and talk about it." In November, Councillor Nazir Ahmad suggested an enclosed walkway be built to connect the different stores at the Flintoba Shopping Centre. "It's very inconvenient and difficult to walk from store to store, and unsafe, particularly for the elderly and mothers with children," he said. Councillor Ahmad asked that Mayor Dennis Ballard use his influence and contacts with the mall site developers to suggest this "common sense" concept. Also in November, Council helped take a bite out of crime by donating $626 to Manitoba Crimestoppers. "I treat it as an insurance Ñ it's something that you hope you never have to use, but if something happens, you've got the availability," said Councillor Therien.
