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.
The North of 54 Cottage Owners Association, representing cottagers in the Flin Flon region, has responded to city council's request for a fire protection fee. In March, council announced the city would stop sending firefighters to blazes in cottage subdivisions as of July 1 unless a funding agreement is either reached or reasonably in progress. Council asked area cottage owners to each pay at least $300 a year, on an interim basis, for continued fire protection out of Flin Flon. In a May 16 letter forwarded to council, and later submitted to The Reminder, Cottage Association co-chairs Ian McKay and Mark Watling offered the following response: Response Letter of March 8, 2013 Your letter of March 8, 2013, re: the above topic (and subsequently published in the local paper) would appear to imply that the Cottage Associations are unnecessarily delaying the finalization and implementation of a Fire Services Agreement between our Association and the city. The truth of the matter is that we have been working with the provincial government for over four years now in order to come up with a workable approach to fire protection for the outlying area. This information was shared with Mark Kolt* some time ago, and the hold up continues to be at the provincial level. The fire protection rate schedule proposed by the City is so onerous and open ended that many cottage owners, particularly those with effective response times of one half to one hour, see no property-protection value in these services. Some are actively considering local neighbourhood options. We would reiterate the points made in our letter to the City of August 24, 2012, in which we outlined how the cottage communities are distinct by nature of their choices and lifestyles. The cottage areas have made their own arrangements for sewage lagoon, pump outs, individual water systems, separate landfill with no garbage pick-up, road maintenance, reduced snow plowing, policing through a rural detachment in Cranberry Portage, etc. This distinctness includes deciding to live without urban services such as delivered potable water paved roads, sidewalks, street lighting unless paid for individually, bus services, reasonable response to emergency services, etc. It appears that the city does not want to pursue user fees for recreational services which is fully within its means but instead would like to load as much cost as possible on fire protection services for which cottage areas have historically utilized about once every two to three years. See 'Lack' on pg. Continued from pg. Furthermore, recent statements by council that out-of-towners, regional residents, cottage residents, etc., do not contribute to Flin Flon's costs is self-serving and shows lack of leadership one would expect from a regional centre. There is never any mention of Walmart, Canadian Tire, or other business taxpayers and employees whose location to Flin Flon is dependent upon these very same outsiders. In addition, these businesses are some of the largest taxpayers to Flin Flon, and the city does not extend its view of fairness to sharing these revenues with surrounding communities. Contrary to some people's beliefs, the overall cost of living in the cottage areas is not lower than residing in Flin Flon. In addition, cottage owners have been advised to expect significant increases in costs due to proposed doubling or more of provincial fees. We do contribute to Flin Flon's wealth and well being and without the support of these outside residents, Flin Flon would indeed be in dire straits. These issues (including ultimatums and options) will be presented to the cottage owners membership for discussion, review, and direction at a spring special meeting. Sincerely, Ian McKay and Mark Watling Co-Chairs North of 54 Cottage Owners Association * Editor's note: Kolt is the chief administrative officer for the City of Flin Flon.
