Lake Matinenda Cottage Owners Association Inc. president Herb Herriman and vice president Dennis Davey made an impassioned plea to Blind River council to restore about $8,000 to hire a dock attendant at the lake’s boat launch and docks also known as the Matinenda Landing budget.
Herriman had sent a letter to council requesting the money, cut by 49 percent when council approved its 2019 budget, be restored to allow for the hiring. He made a personal appeal on behalf of the association to council at its Monday evening meeting.
Last year council approved an operating expenditure for the boat launch of $17,780 that included hiring of two attendants. That expenditure was slashed this year during budget considerations.
“Needless to say, this is not only alarming and a disappointment to Lake Matinenda cottagers and visitors, it is also a serious safety issue,” Herriman said in the letter and reiterated to council Monday. “Many of our cottagers and visitors are elderly and the assistance of the dock attendant at the landing is essential for their well-being as they dock and disembark their boats.”
“The dock attendant has been a great asset and comfort providing needed assistance especially to the elderly and those who may not have the requisite boating skills a person would expect,” he added, referring to assistance given to many of the 225 property owners who use the facility. “Not only is their person and boat in peril to be injured or damaged, but also others already docked.”
Herriman acknowledged the difficulty for council to meet its overall budget goal but felt the $8,000 budget cut could be offset by some $300,000 to $400,000 in taxes paid annually to the town since Lake Matinenda was annexed by the town in 2000. The cottagers, he pointed out, do not receive many municipal services other residents receive.
Davey, who has had a family cottage on the lake for 60 years, said the boat attendant is essential for the safety of boaters, largely elderly cottage owners, who use the facility.
Herriman said the cut left the landing budget at around $9,300. Taxes paid by cottagers are for about three-month use by cottagers.
The town has already had discussions with the association about capital work that should be done, particularly on the break wall replacement estimated at about $500,000.
“There are two deep holes at the break wall waiting for an accident to happen,” he said.
Herriman said the landing is in need of repair for cottagers and people who fish the lake. He said some of the problems at the landing could see the town facing liability charges if a person is injured.
He said dock attendants have also talked with landing users about fire bans and assisted with keeping the facility clean.
A quick decision by council to restore the $8,000 would help during the busy, but short summer season.
“One of the things we benefitted from the most was from the dock attendant,” Davey said of job. “Garbage disposal and porta potties have improved over the years.”
Herriman and Davey said lake use also generates income for Blind River from cottagers and visitors.
Councillor HP Roy, who said he has two sons who worked as dock attendants, said some of the work attendants have done is not required of them to do or trained to do.
Coun. Roy said the fact attendants assist people in and out of boats without being properly trained could also result in liability charges.
“We’re tasked with difficult decisions,” he said of the budget cut.
“They are not trained to help the elderly in and out of boats. Their job description is to tie up the boats. I understand you people want to have the dock attendants because it is convenient,” Coun. Roy said.
Coun. Paula Summers said there are several lakes that have landings that have not seen improvements.
“From the town’s perspective we have to look at whole decisions. What about the other lakes?” she said referring to requests that might come from other cottage associations.
Not funding that dock attendant is a slap in the face,” Herriman said. “It’s an embarrassment to us. It’s your landing, it’s our gateway to the lake. Our whole access is by the lake.”
Council is not expected to consider restoring the money until its meeting in August, although Mayor Sally Hagman said there could be a major announcement at the association’s annual general meeting on July 27.