Neepawa Council Debrief: Pothole Season Has Arrived

Neepawa Town Council Approves 2025 Financial Plan, Shares Grant Updates and Road News

This week, Neepawa Town Council passed its 2025 Financial Plan, reported on incoming grants for services and projects, and shared updates on this year’s road rehabilitation efforts.

Council Reports

Councillor Jason Nadeau updated Council on the past couple of months of meetings. He shared new statistics from the regional library, showing that circulation has been increasing month-over-month. Nadeau also reported on behalf of Westlake Employment, emphasizing that internationally trained nurses must still meet Manitoba’s licensing requirements, even if they are certified elsewhere in Canada. He noted that a workshop was recently held to help residents navigate the process, but misinformation remains an ongoing concern.

The Rossburn Subdivision Trail Association has been approved for a $15,000 grant to help maintain the trail, easing some financial burden on member municipalities, including Neepawa. They have also applied for additional funding that could allow for the planting of thousands of trees along the trail.

Councillor Yvonne Sisley announced that day camp registrations open next week—Monday for full-week registrations and Wednesday for single-day options. She also noted that May 30 is designated as spring trail cleanup day. Residents can contact Neepawa’s Recreation Department at recreation@neepawa.ca to sign up.

Councillor Marijka Kostenchuk reported from Home Assistance Neepawa and District. Their volunteer income tax program will run until May 2, and a new foot care clinic will now operate regularly in town. Seniors seeking more information or wishing to book an appointment can contact Michelle Ferguson at 204-476-2009.

Public Works

Manager of Operations Denis Saquet reported that this year’s potholes are not as severe as last year’s. The public works team is already patching where possible using cold mix, which requires potholes to be cleared and dry. The town’s asphalt patcher will arrive on May 5 and has been leased for approximately three months, covering a six- to eight-week session in spring and additional work in the fall. Although the town considered purchasing its own patching machine, the $500,000+ price tag kept it out of this year’s budget. Staff will also begin manual hot mix patching soon.

In addition, the department has applied for nearly 600 trees through a free distribution program, with plans to plant them around town this summer.

Grants and Purchases

CAO Colleen Synchyshyn reported several new funding sources. The town’s biannual recycling rebate from the Department of Environment and Climate Change will total just under $13,000 for the period between July 1 and December 31. Neepawa will also receive $1,250 for improvements to the TransCanada Trail.

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has provided $4,800 to support airport maintenance for 2024, with that figure expected to double in 2025. However, Synchyshyn cautioned that even doubled, the funding falls far short of what’s needed. Preventative maintenance for the runway alone is estimated at $300,000, while a full resurfacing could cost $600,000. Lighting upgrades could push additional costs into the million-dollar range.

On the purchasing side, the town will be acquiring a new mower, a budgeted item for 2024. Despite tariff challenges, Public Works secured a replacement already located in Manitoba that came in under budget after the trade-in of the old mower.

2025 Financial Plan

The town’s 2025 Financial Plan had already been reviewed in a separate meeting, leaving only final approval and the first reading of the bylaw to enable tax collection based on the new plan.

Also addressed was correspondence from HAND (Home Assistance Neepawa and District) regarding their AGM and resident safety concerns, which NACTV will follow up on later this month.

Rrain Prior – Local Journalism Initiative