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 Ability to service annexed homes with sewer and water lines. Social and economic ties. The will of the people. Those are some of the factors Manitoba's Municipal Board will consider should Flin Flon City Council apply to annex cottage subdivisions outside the community. The board, a quasi-judicial tribunal, would not have the final say on a land takeover but would make a consequential recommendation to the man who does, Local Government Minister Ron Lemieux. 'The board uses a set of principles when considering annexation proposals,' a provincial spokesperson told The Reminder. Among those principles, the spokesperson said, are: Servicing: The ability to provide water and sewer service to the residents and land owners of a particular area. Social and economic ties: The board considers the social and economic ties of the affected residents and landowners. Viability and future growth: The viability of a municipality and its ability to fulfill its role in the broader community should be supported. ÊWill of the people: An attempt should be made to accommodate the will of the majority of residents and land owners of an area proposed for annexation. Geographical boundaries: Geographical or natural barriers that may serve as a logical boundary line should be considered. An annexation proposal would not necessarily have to meet all of the principles in order to succeed. Both opponents and supporters of annexation can find solace in some of the factors that would be considered. For example, it would not appear feasible for the City of Flin Flon to run sewer and water lines to cottage subdivisions _ good news for opponents. That said, there is no denying that many, if not most, cottagers maintain strong social and economic ties to Flin Flon _ good news for supporters. Manitoba's Municipal Act provides a legal framework and detailed process that must be followed before an annexation may occur. The provincial spokesperson said the process of annexation, from the date of application to the time Lemieux makes his decision, can take a year or more. Asked how closely Lemieux is monitoring the events in Flin Flon, the spokesperson said 'the minister follows with interest the developments and concerns of municipalities across the province.' Lemieux has not taken a public position on potential local annexation. City council has asked cottagers to devise a proposal to help cover municipal expenses. If council does not get a proposal they deem realistic, they will attempt to annex cottage subdivisions outside Flin Flon on the Manitoba side of the border. Flin Flon MLA Clarence Pettersen has said he wants a 'fair agreement' for cottagers and would 'work towards' annexation of subdivisions should city council go down that path. Pettersen said he has spoken with different government officials, including Lemieux and Premier Greg Selinger, about the cottage situation. He said they are aware of the issue not only as it relates to Flin Flon, but also to The Pas and Thompson, which have nearby cottage subdivisions as well. Flin Flon, however, is the only community of the three that has publicly put annexation on the table of options.
