Conversation re: Regional Service Fees and Fire Protection for Cottage Owners.
At present there is only one association through which the City of Flin Flon has had to work, called the Schist Lake / Big Island Cottage Owners Association / the Little Athapap Cottage Owners Association, which has brought no results.
Many cabin owners have said they were never properly notified of the facts initially, and received no actual letter concerning a regional service fee. They were just given the idea that the City was gouging them. So maybe, in order to come to some agreement, someone needs to step up to the plate and reiterate what transpired and why.
My name is Ken Pawlachuk and I am writing this as a resident of the City of Flin Flon / councillor, and cabin owner.
The areas outside our municipal boundaries are called unorganized territories. These are areas governed by the Manitoba government, which collects lease fees or taxes, both property and school taxes, to assist in operation of said areas.
None of these fees are given to nearby municipalities (City of Flin Flon). The fees paid by cottages account for 38 per cent of costs to run their areas (e.g. roads, garbage dumps, administration).
The other 62 per cent is paid for by Manitoba taxpayers.
This is a good deal for some from our region who are outside of the Flin Flon municipality.
At one time, cabin owners were not allowed to live on leased land. Then changes came, and hundreds moved out of our municipality throughout the years, and at the same time Flin Flon has shrunk to half the population it once had.
Usually, unorganized territories have no recreation facilities, meeting halls, recycling, cemeteries, library, police, fire department or airport, but our cottagers do enjoy these services without having to contribute to the main costs.
For over 10 years, cabin owners were given free fire protection from the City. After several recent fires, when our taxpayers were forced to pay the costs due to inadequate insurance, some changes had to be made.
In 10 years of free service, the City bought two fire trucks, the last one valued at over $450,000, paid for by Flin Flon taxpayers, plus they paid the operating costs. Not a penny came from those outside the municipality.
Initially the City proposed a service fee, and many cabin owners were never privy to this entire first proposal.
It was $125.87 for fire protection; $374.96 for a subsidy for recreation, including the Whitney Forum, pool, Flin Flon Community Hall, etc.
Costs were carefully calculated annually and explained. Flin Flon subsidizes these facilities just because it is important for your quality of life, and for your kids.
How many of your children and grandchildren have used the pool for lessons, with some even becoming life guards?
Or how many have used the Whitney Forum for skating, hockey, figure skating and just indoor walking in the winter, or just attend events at the Flin Flon Community Hall?
I am talking about non-residents, non-taxpayers to the City of Flin Flon.
Other parts of the initial proposal were:
– Cemetery costs of $14.94 / cabin to maintain for our loved ones. Buying a plot does not cover this.
– Recycling costs of $17.24 per cabin, to make us responsible to recycle. Additionally our landfill costs hundreds of thousands to maintain and do the required studies and licensing, paid for by the Flin Flon taxpayers. The cabin owners’ landfill is paid 60 per cent by provincial taxpayers.
– Library costs of $27.50 as is paid by Creighton, Denare Beach and Flin Flon, but capital costs are paid for by the Flin Flon taxpayer only.
– Policing costs of $256. Two-thirds of costs for cabin owners are presently provided by the Flin Flon RCMP until the Cranberry Portage force is reorganized in maybe two or three years. Most calls are answered by Flin Flon RCMP. If our population goes below 5,000, we should have a substantial decrease in police costs.
– Administration fees amount to eight per cent of total expenses – $65.70.
Flin Flon taxpayers recently put a new roof on the Flin Flon Community Hall, library, and police station for over $300,000.
That was the summary of our first proposal. This would only have been payable by those whose principal residence is at the cabin and who are not City of Flin Flon taxpayers.
It was all rejected by the cottage association in a letter stating they would rather pay user fees and when they shop locally their support helps the businesses pay taxes to the City.
The only thing the association was interested in was fire protection.
We made a second proposal for $300 for this service, which would apply to all cabin owners who are accessible by road.
$150 is what each house in Flin Flon is paying for fire service under the new tax system, and $150 would be for capital costs for the fire dept. to purchase equipment, new fire trucks and major equipment costs, which are presently paid for out of the general tax revenues.
With that we gave the cottage association 90 days to reply. On day 87 they met with city council, rejected the offer and requested further extension of free services. The City said no.
After that we met with Conservation, which approved an old deal of $50, stating that 25 per cent would be paid by Manitoba taxpayers and the rest paid for by the cabin owners in the provincial park.
This is an agreement similar to what they have in The Pas for the cabin owners in a provincial park.
As mentioned, since that time the new tax system charges each Flin Flon house (tax no.) $150/ year for fire and rescue operating costs, so we declined as we could not substantiate giving them service for far less than our taxpayers must pay! (This is the case in The Pas also).
Many who live at the lake have expressed that they want to contribute to our City, and they are an essential part of our community serving in service clubs, businesses, schools, sports, arts, crafts, etc.
Flin Flon and cottagers are very linked together. Maybe these who have expressed their support need to form a new representation of cabin owners who want to move ahead and get some things settled. We need to work together.
Annexation is not what I or anyone would like to see, and it would be costly.
First everyone would have to buy their property – no more leases because you have to own your property to pay taxes. There is no two-tier tax system as per provincial rules. Ask the people of Snow Lake about annexation, and paying high taxes with very limited service.
Flin Flon is one of the finest places to live, and we are a unique community with a great quality of life in sports, arts, culture.
The people who live outside the municipality of Flin Flon are to feel valued and know they are an important part of this community. Somehow, we need to work together.
Respectfully,
Ken Pawlachuk
Flin Flon
