With summer drawing to an end, Blind River council at its Monday evening meeting declined to provide funding for the Lake Matinenda Cottage Owners Association to hire a second dock attendant at lake boat launch and docks.
However, council did agree to look at reinstating the $17,780 funding given to the association in previous years during 2020 budget considerations. That funding was for the hiring of two dock attendants but was cut during budget deliberations this year.
Association president Herb Herriman and vice president Dennis Davey made a plea to council at its July meeting to reinstate the funding that was cut by 49 per cent or $8,000 from the previous year. Herriman indicated the association was unaware of the cut when it was made earlier in the year during his presentation in July.
Mayor Sally Hagman said she met with association members in late July at the association’s annual meeting and urged the group to seek funding from a non-municipal sources such as other levels of government or government ministries. Council will also consider reinstating the funding during budget talks next year.
Several councillors, including Coun. Paula Summers, indicated they would not support reinstating the entire amount.
Herriman, who attended Monday’s meeting, indicated that restoring the funding at this point was “too late.”
Council will look at funding for repairs to the break wall on the lake to be started next year. Estimates show the break wall work could cost up to $500,000. Funds will be sought from the federal infrastructure fund.