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.
Dear Mr. Fontaine I am currently a cottage owner at Bakers Narrows. I grew up in Flin Flon and my permanent home is in Alberta. I have been following the situation regarding fire protection services for cottage owners, via articles in The Reminder. I have been a cottage owner in the area for over 12 years but had little knowledge, until the fire protection issue arose in the local paper, of the North of 54 Cottage Owners Association. I have not had the opportunity to attend meetings of this association as I have not been in town when they occurred. For myself, and I assume other individuals who are not full time residents in this area, this means out views may not have been fully represented during discussions. My current understanding is that meetings with the (City) and the association only included full time area residents who are cottage owners. I have great respect for volunteer organizations and the effort it takes to run such organizations. From what I have read it appears the (City) and the Cottage Owners Association have not been able to reach an agreement on fire protection. The Reminder has also noted a number of times in quotes from the association that the Cottage Owners Association is not a legal entity and 'cannot enter into an agreement with anybody.' Based on this fact I am unsure why this association would be negotiating with the (City) on behalf of cottage owners like myself. The majority of cottage owners I have spoken to are not opposed to the $300 levy for the fire protection. Some are like me, unable to attend meetings or not in town at times be part of the discussion. But some are not. My concern is that despite hard work of the North of 54 Cottage Owners Association, the views of the majority of cottage owners may not have been communicated on this issue. I would like to suggest that an application process be put in place. This could be accomplished by offering an application for fire protection services or similar document that each cottage owner can obtain and complete. I would assume if a majority of cottage owners complete the application requesting the service it would give the (City) leverage to overcome jurisdictional issues on fire protection with all levels of government. If the application was sent to all owners directly with a completion deadline it could also serve as a vote from each owner on this issue. Cottage owners could apple for or decline the fire protection coverage. This may ensure each cottage owner's position on this issue received by Council and the City of Flin Flon. If, via the application process, a majority of cottage owners decline the fire protection, it would also give the Cottage Owners Association an opportunity to investigate what kind of protection is available and whether it has to be enhanced. And whether a legal entity should be formed for cottage owners. Although a concern would be that once a legal entity is formed the operating costs may exceed the cost of fire protection. As a cottage owner who is not always in town, I am concerned about the lack of fire protection for my cottage and the cottages around me. As a fire in a nearby cottage could directly affect mine. That for me is the issue that needs to be resolved. I believe one viable solution is to have the City of Flin Flon receive formal input from each cottage owner affected. The purpose of my letter is to request consideration for an application process for fire protection for cottage owners in the area. Yours Truly, Peter Premachuk
