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.
Contined from pg. 6 It is appropriate to emphasize at this point that the $882.22 figure is based on 2011 costs, which are the most recent figures available for a complete year. The figures for 2012 will of course be higher, if one uses the same methodology. The 2012 figures will not be available until early in 2013. If this arrangement is to last, some allowance must be made for yearly increases to account for inflation. This could be done in a number of ways. One way would be to send out a bill in February for the current year, based on figures derived from the preceding full calendar year. The City is open to discussion on other reasonable alternatives. These might include applying a percentage increase based on one or more cost of living indexes, the general increase provided for in the City's union wage settlement, or some combination of the above. As for other elements, such as potential airport capital costs, or amounts to cover possible deficits, such further costs as might be attributable to elements such as this could be added to the expenses for the calendar year in which they were incurred, and a proportionate contribution calculated according to a similar methodology as used for other categories of Municipal spending described in paragraphs one to seven, above. Or, perhaps, some other arrangement, such as a yearly contribution to a capital reserve, could be also considered, where appropriate. Flin Flon and the cottage areas are inextricably linked. Although, in the short run, Flin Flon's problems may be viewed by some as standing alone and apart from the cottage areas, such thinking, when carried to its logical conclusion can only result in a significant decline in the quality of life in the region as a whole. No one wants to see the many regional services now provided by Flin Flon close down, but only a combined effort can make them sustainable over the long term. The regional service fee being proposed here is one effective way to fairly share the load, and provide for a viable future for our area. As we look for your response to this proposal, we also look to you for understanding, good will and support, which will be the foundation on which we can move forward as a regional community. The City of Flin Flon would like some response to this proposal on or before February 1, 201(3). Please feel free to contact me, if you are looking for further clarification, or if you wish to raise other matters relevant to our discussions. Yours truly, George Fontaine Mayor *** The cottage associations' letter of Jan. 25, 2013, received by the city this week: We received and reviewed your 'Proposal for Service Fees' dated November 29, 2012. We note that you have not acknowledged our letter of October 3, 2012. If for some reason you did not receive the October 3 letter, please advise and another copy will be forwarded to you. Our general impression is that, except for fire protection for which we both agree a better arrangement is necessary, you have included all those items that would reduce your costs coupled with an open-ended allowance for increases and excluded those items which would be a substantial cost such as road maintenance and snow removal, garbage collection, sewage pump-outs, etc. We find it disconcerting that the service fee suggested for the 'a' group (for which no additional meaningful services are being offered) is over twice the tax rate paid by more than 25 percent of Flin Flon properties who do receive full services, and may well be higher than that charged to over 50 percent of properties in the city. Your proposal reinforces our position that except for a reasonable cost structure to address the level of fire protection you are able to supply the cottage areas, and a realistic (perhaps substantial) user fee schedule for recreational facilities to be applicable to all non-residents of Flin Flon, your proposal continues to be an attempt to increase your revenue without providing any meaningful additional services to us. We would look forward to working with Flin Flon in order to find ways to cost-share in services that are beneficial to cottage residents. Sincerely: Ian Mckay President, Little Athapap Cottage Owners Assoc. Mark Watling President, Schist Lake/Big Island Cottage Owners Assoc. *** Mayor Fontaine's letter to be sent this week in response to the cottagers: Thank you for (your letter) of January 25, 2013. Council is encouraged by the language of the most recent response from cottage owners association. All agree that fire protection should be a shared service. The positive reference to a substantial user fee schedule for recreational service is promising. We could not continue to provide these recreational services without agreements with outlying residents and residents of nearby Saskatchewan communities taking a serious view toward participating in ongoing costs. Recent conversations with representatives of the RCMP have shown a possibility of restructuring policing staff in Cranberry Portage. If these changes take place, we would no longer be subsidizing policing in outlying areas. This would have a meaningful effect on costs. We of course are prepared to look at providing some additional services. This would have to be on a full cost recovery basis. In a return letter, or in a face to face meeting, could you identify which services you would wish the City to consider providing? Costing out such services, even on a preliminary basis, is bound to require a great deal of background information and review, as well as the cooperation of provincial representatives who may be currently providing equivalent services. However, the City is prepared to undertake inquiries if your associations confirm their serious interest in pursuing such an option. Given that a review of additional services, and continuing discussion of the City's concerns respecting existing services will be expected to take some time to accomplish, interim measures respecting fire protection would appear to be in order pending resolution of the other issues. A letter will be sent early next week making a concrete proposal for same. Yours truly, George Fontaine, Mayor
