Neepawa Council Debrief: Grappling With the Cost of Maintaining Healthcare

At their second February meeting council considers some long-term funding requests from local health-adjacent organisations and discusses a special service plan for trash and recycling as well as revisions to their climate change action plan.

Rrain Prior – Local Journalism Initiative

In Council Reports, Councillor Nadeau reports on meetings of the Western Manitoba Regional Library strategic planning session and the Spruce Plains Justice Committee. Councillor Gerrard, as a part of the finance committee, reports that they have begun to review initial spending requests from municipal departments, noting that significant infrastructure investments are still needed to service the expanded areas of the community.

Manager of Operations Denis Saquet also reports on department budgeting and other planning that is going on in the background of the visible work of the department. Work near the new hospital continues and he has been working with Manitoba Infrastructure regarding the new intersection with Highway 16. A new retaining wall is required as part of that Hamilton Street project, and the design work has now been subcontracted at a cost of approximately $9500. Following an approved design, actual construction of the retaining wall will be at an additional cost.

CAO Colleen Synchynshyn has several pieces of new business to bring forward, including a special levy for disposable solid waste and recycling. According to Synchyshyn, only 8% of the cost of garbage last year was borne by the general mill rate, and this year that will be reduced to 6%. The proposal is more of a user pay model, and the town also recovers some funds from our recycling from Manitoba Multi Materials Stewardship. A public hearing on the proposal will be held on March 11.

The Neepawa and Area Disabled Persons Association, which runs the Handivan, has come before Council before to outline the costs of their operation and where they need assistance. A request was deferred in 2024 because the municipal budget had already been established, but they have come forward again in 2025. The organisation is requesting $1.80 per capita, which for this year would amount to $10,233. While Council has made some special or emergency contributions in the past, this is a new ask. Council approves the request, with the stipulation that two-thirds of that amount go into a reserve for capital expenditures, in order to replace the Handivan vehicle when it becomes necessary.

They have also received a request from the Beautiful Plains Community Clinic recruitment and retention committee for a funding increase. The committee has received $2500 annually for the past ten years which has been used to attend recruitment events, but that money doesn’t go as far as it did ten years ago. The community currently has nine doctors and, according to Deputy Mayor Parrott, it will need 18 when the new hospital is up and running. Additionally, the clinic would like to have the capacity to be able to support patients in surrounding communities one or two days a week. Council approved an increase to $2 per capital starting in 2025, which currently comes to $11,370.

Finally, in 2019 the town approved a climate change action plan, and are looking to submit an application to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation initiative to update that plan. The updates will include some specific, local climate-related risks, such as increased flooding and lightning strikes that have been affecting communication with the town’s well sites.

Also discussed at the meeting were the upcoming WinterFest and a meeting of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities.