Neepawa town council: big plans for the Flats
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Photo by Eoin Devereux. The Town of Neepawa has hired a design and consulting firm to develop a master plan for the development of the Flats in Neepawa. Councillors also raised the idea of giving the area a more formal name.
By Eoin Devereux
Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press
A consultant has been selected to help the Town of Neepawa with the development of the Flats. Council has approved working with Stantec, a Winnipeg based design and consulting firm on creation of a conceptual master plan. Stantec and another firm, WSP Consulting, both bid for the consulting services proposal with Stantec coming in with the lower bid at $8,500.
The conceptual master plan is expected to include a walking path, outdoor ice rink with a concrete base, basketball or volleyball courts, as well as a new parking lot. The hope is to make the area a focal point for the Canada 150 celebrations, while also turning it into a long term recreational destination for both Neepawa ratepayers and rural residents.
During the deliberations, the point was also raised that a more formal name for the location should be considered. A naming contest for the area was suggested.
Canada 150 preparations
Mayor Adrian de Groot provided an update on the work that is already underway for the Canada Day celebrations in 2017. A Canada 150 community meeting was held on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Preliminary plans are to establish a Canada Day committee composed of several local service groups working together on the day’s festivities, with the Town serving as a coordinator.
“The Town will really be acting as a coordinator rather than, you know; We’ll have our own projects that we’ll be working on. However, we’re going to be helping and assisting people. We’re not going to be doing things for people,” noted de Groot.
Part of this coordination effort has already taken place, as town officials hosted a workshop on Wednesday, Dec. 7, to help with writing proposals.
Mayor’s report
In his report, de Groot noted that part of the council’s strategic plan, which was assembled a year ago, was a mandate to review the town’s service agreements with local rural municipalities. He cited the personal care home and the former RM of Langford water agreement as items that should be updated. Earlier this year, council approved a new fire and emergency agreement with North Cypress-Langford. De Groot noted that it could be an excellent model for a new fire protection services agreement with outlying municipalities, which he noted “is long overdue.” As well, de Groot said it was time to get serious about regional recreation and ensuring that there is engagement from the other political bodies and making sure that everyone is on the same page.
Interim operating budget
Town Council has approved the 2017 interim operating budget. In accordance with section 163 of the Municipal Act, The Council has made provisional estimates of the operating and capital expenditures of the municipality from Jan. 1, 2017 to the adoption of the annual estimates. The estimates are as follows:
• General government services - $330,000
• Protective services - $342,375
• Transportation services - $396,950
• Environmental health services - $172,000
• Environmental development services - $39,000
• Public health and welfare services - $94,700
• Economic development services - $107,405
• Recreation and cultural service - $160,575
• Fiscal services - $85,180
• Total - $1,728,185
• Total utility operating requirement: $500,000
• Total general capital requirements: $565,000
•Total utility capital requirements: $300,000
MIT 2016 - 2017 snow removal agreement
The Town of Neepawa and Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation have agreed to a snow removal deal. The agreement is for the removal of snow from Mountain Avenue, which does fall under MIT’s jurisdiction. Financial details were not released.
Snow removal concerns
Recently, Neepawa rate payers expressed some concerns to councillors and administration regarding the removal of snow. The Town has talked with the contractor hired to do the removal, about the situation. A new, more experienced operator familiar with the snow routes has been brought in to operate the machinery and service maps for the town have been provided.
