The election of Cal Huntley as mayor is bolstering optimism that area cottagers and the City of Flin Flon will reach a funding deal.
Dale Powell, a director and negotiator with North of 54 Cottage Owners Association, said he is eager to work with Huntley.
“I do feel that we are going to be able to reach some kind of an agreement with the city and the province at this point,” said Powell.
“I think with the new mayor we can look forward to some positive, professional and cooperative dialogue between the city, ourselves and the provincial government, because of course they’re a player in all of this as well.”
Huntley addressed the “city-cottage situation” during his campaign, suggesting that “personalities and positions” had “taken over the conversation.”
He said he believed both sides could reach “a meaningful resolve” in “fairly short order,” agreeing on “something that works for both parties.”
Huntley did not explicitly rule out cottage country annexation, a tool left on the table by predecessor George Fontaine, but he said he did not view it “as a solution.”
Powell said Huntley has not told cottagers he is revoking the annexation option, but Powell acknowledged “it’s probably a little early in the game” for the mayor-elect.
Still early
At this stage, Powell said, it is difficult to say what the city-cottage agreement he envisions will look like.
But he said there is still an appetite for municipal fire protection – from Flin Flon, Creighton or Cranberry Portage – because it would allow cottage country to acquire 911 phone service.
Powell said 911 officials have so far denied cottagers the service because they have access only to ambulance and police but not year-round fire protection.
He said the city’s asking price under Fontaine alienated cottagers, but with a new mayor “it’s worthwhile to explore the whole issue of having some kind of an agreement.”
Under Fontaine, the city had most recently sought $650 a year from each permanent cottager and $250 from each seasonal cottager, according to North of 54.
Cottagers overwhelmingly rejected those amounts, which covered not only fire protection, but also some other municipal services, North of 54 officials said.
Powell said there was “absolutely no rationale” for the $650 asking price and “it remains to be seen whether the new mayor and council will see it
differently.”
