Top 10 questions about SERA, WBCA and other items.
- How many members are there in SERA?
- Who is an eligible voting member at SERA’s annual general meeting?
- What is the difference between SERA and my own local road association?
- What is the difference between SERA and the WBCA?
- Why is there not just one road association looking after all the roads?
- Who is responsible for what on the roads?
- What are the long-term plans for the road?
- How can I help with the upkeep of the roads?
- What direction should I give my family, guests, and contractors about driving on the road?
- Why do we need to pay an additional fees to my local road association that is passed through to SERA for road work?
1. How many members are there in SERA?
SERA has 114 cottagers/residents made up from the four local road associations. They are
- Northern Peninsula Road Association (commonly referred to as NORPEN)
- Welcome Channel Road Corporation
- Gold Pointe Road Association
- 1133406 Ontario Inc.
Each association is a member. Cottagers within their road association votes to appoint a representative to SERA.
2. Who is an eligible voting member at SERA’s annual general meeting?
Voting members are the representatives appointed by individual road associations, not individuals who own lots. Individuals who own lots appoint their SERA representative within their road association. SERA also holds a community meeting annually for all lot owners to come and provide feedback and hear about the progress made.
3. What is the difference between SERA and my own local road association?
SERA is an umbrella association representing the collective interests of the four south of the reserve local road associations. It manages the members’ monies related to the maintenance and capital expenditures of the main Poplar Bay Road.
Local road associations are responsible for their roads that are not a part of the reserve.
4. What is the difference between SERA and the WBCA?
SERA represents titled property owners south and east of the reserve. The Washagamis Bay Cottagers Association (WBCA) represents the interests of families with leased lots on reserve with the Obashkaandagaang First Nation through an investment corporation.
5. Why is there not just one road association looking after all the roads?
There are legal differences between leased lots and titled lots in the Obashkaandagaang First Nation relationship. While SERA and WBCA work to maintain and improve the road seamlessly, there are operational differences.
For example: Local road associations maintain additional roads that they contract and pay separately from the work on the main Poplar Bay and Lily Pad roads. Each local road association has its preferences and needs, thus local road associations are the most useful for day-to-day local road management.
6. Who is responsible for what on the roads?
Over the next year, SERA, WBCA and the Band will discuss this more. SERA and WBCA will work together to create an annual road plan for the reserve roads. The individual road associations that make up SERA look after their own roads that are on private lands.
7. What are the long-term plans for the road?
SERA, WBCA, and Obashkaandagaang First Nation are working toward developing a longer-term plan for the area roads. There is no immediate timeline for the plan’s delivery. SERA welcomes any suggestions: feel free to contact us.
8. How can I help with the upkeep of the roads?
Generally, there are four important things you can do:
- Pay your local road association fees in the amounts and timeframe requested.
- Volunteer your and your family and guests’ time to attend planned events to maintain and beautify the roads.
- Speak positively about the roads’ future in your conversations with family and cottage colleagues.
- Understand that volunteers are running your local road association and SERA. You too can volunteer and help deliver great results for the area!
We acknowledge the road has a difficult past, but you must agree it is much better. Forward thinking is what we need and a positive perspective is important.
9. What direction should I give my family, guests, and contractors about driving on the road?
There are four messages you should say to your family, guests and contractors about driving on the roads:
- Stick to the speed limit.
- Drive to the road and weather conditions.
- Minimize dust created by your vehicle.
- Do not litter.
10. Why do we need to pay an additional fees to my local road association that is passed through to SERA for road work?
SERA and WBCA receive money from the Band or Investment Corporation for road maintenance and improvements.
When we add the Band contribution to the additional money we request, the amount is still not enough to bring the road to a more sustainable level. While we have not completed a full engineering study, we have received feedback that the road requires a substantial capital upgrade. Thus, we will require a more sustained contribution to chip away at the capital deficit.