This  program covers the first half of the last Neepawa Town Council meeting of the year that took place on December 19, 2023. Because of the length of the meeting, the second part of the meeting will be released later.

This first part of the meeting involves a lively public hearing as well as Council reports. It also covers issues around recycling and cybersecurity, and the advantages of having post-secondary facilities in town. The possibility of Neepawa being recognised as an age-friendly community is also discussed in both halves of this week’s meeting.

Councillor Sisley reports from the Recreation and Economic Development committee that this year’s Winterfest, the town’s annual celebration on Louis Riel Day weekend in February, will look a little different this year. The town will be holding the celebration on the Sunday evening instead of the Monday afternoon, and while plans are still in progress the family-friendly event might include such new additions as glow-in-the-dark trails and a fireworks display.

Councillor Gerrard reports on the County Courthouse committee, which is beginning work on its budget in January in order to address some funding shortfalls this year as well as reviewing the contributions and operations of the three partners. These operations are laid out in the Beautiful Plains County Buildings Act of 1990 by the Province of Manitoba.

Mayor Hedley also reports on a visit from the Honourable Malaya Marcelino, Minister of Labour and Immigration of Manitoba, and Councillor Kostenchuk reports on the Home Assistance of Neepawa and District Committee meeting. She introduces the idea of Neepawa being recognised as an age-friendly community, especially given a recent study done by students from the University of Manitoba to improve access to various facilities and locations in Neepawa for seniors.

A public hearing is held regarding a variation application for a new residence located at 372 Broadway. The request is for the setbacks for the north and south sides of the property to be reduced to approximately 10 feet and 6 feet respectively from the required 15 feet. Those setbacks are specific to unserviced lots, which 372 Broadway is classified as, because while it and its neighbours have access to the town’s water supply, they currently have to use a holding tank for sewage. This is at the heart of the conflict over this application, as a current neighbour is concerned about snow buildup from the new home being so close to his property, and the potential difficulty in accessing his septic tank to empty it. Council hears from all parties involved, and will vote on the application in the second half of the program.

There will be no Council meeting on January 2. The regular schedule will resume on January 16.