Council Debrief: All About the Water

This week’s council meeting began with back to back public hearings. The first involved a zoning variation to allow a 4-unit dwelling by an out-of-province developer, demonstrating how Neepawa’s growth is getting the attention of outside investors. The second involved a subdivision of a property to allow for a new public road which was largely just a formality, but a necessary one.

After being discussed for the past year and a half since the Canada Day flood of 2020, restoration work has finally started at Park Lake. Trucks began moving gravel last week and will continue to do so for another few weeks. Other elements of the restoration progress at all three damaged sites are at various stages but are expected to proceed soon.

Manager of Operations Denis Saquet brings up a perennial problem in the Neepawa area - grease blockages in the sewer lines, which solidify in our cold temperatures to block the entire pipe and are difficult and costly to remove. Residents are once again advised to not empty cooking grease down their drains, as many new residents may not be aware of problems it can cause here.

Another perennial problem, particularly in years such as this one where there has been abundant snowfall, is piles of snow impacting sightlines, particularly at intersections. Because the town is bisected by  provincial highways, responsibility for dealing with these is a combination of individuals, the town, and the province.

Finally, we come to a new bylaw regarding drainage for private and public property. This bylaw has been in the works for some time, and earlier drafts have already been used as guidelines over the past year or two. Passing the bylaw will formalise those requirements. Some situations will still have to be dealt with on a case by case basis, as no two sites and no two construction projects are alike.

Other items covered at the meeting include: a new chairperson and director for the regional library; the fire department review of policies; hiring an additional building inspector based on the volume of work; contracting a temporary operator for the Handivan until June when a more permanent solution will be investigated; and allowing an easement for renovations to the historic building next door to the town offices.