Neepawa Council Debrief: Safety Standards and Paving Progress

This week’s meeting saw three separate public hearings for three very different requests. The first was regarding the new hospital, which required a variance to increase the maximum height of a building in an institutional zone from 45 feet to 65 feet. The second was to close that portion of Commerce Street between the Yellowhead Centre and Neepawa Middle School that had been misaligned and has now been replaced with an access point to the Yellowhead Centre parking lot. Both had no representation present and no comments submitted, and were passed unanimously by Council.

The third was to construct a secondary suite in the basement of a residence, which needed the variance because the suite exceeded the standard size percentage relative to the main building. The requested size was still within the building code allowances, however. When the size listed in the building code is exceeded, the construction or renovation project becomes a duplex rather than just a secondary suite and there are additional regulations that come into play. There was one letter received in opposition to the project based on available parking, however both the planning officer and the homeowner spoke to the fact that there will continue to be adequate off-street parking behind the home.

As an offshoot of this variance request, Council also discussed the fairly straightforward process to properly add a secondary suite to a residence and encouraged other residents to follow this process, including consulting with the planning district, to ensure the safety of all people living in the home. Many people do not realise that adding a secondary suite is not just a renovation project and requires some oversight and adherence to regulations.

In Council reports this month, Councillor Pottinger reported on the recreation and economic development committee, which will be holding a Children’s Business Fair in August. As well, the new training facility for the LPN program is well underway and on schedule, and the pool opened last weekend to a full capacity crowd despite a portion being fenced off due to ongoing construction of the waterslide.

Councillor Sisley represented Council at the Mutya ng Filipino Heritage pageant last weekend and commended the organising committee for an excellent event. The first fun fitness event for the town was on Sunday and had a great turnout despite the scorching weather. These events will continue for the next five Sundays at 10am at Riverbend Park.

As well, the town is planning a scavenger hunt to highlight and celebrate the many recreation projects that have taken place recently. It will begin on June 18 and culminate in a barbecue on July 6. More information will be coming soon.

Manager of Operations Denis Saquet reported that the town is making good progress on several ongoing projects including the Hamilton Street water main installation, the concrete pour at the wastewater plant, and the concrete pad for the new waterslide. Paving work for the new tennis courts will be taking place shortly, and following that the next project is looking at repurposing the old Crocus Drive for additional courts. As well, they have been doing some line painting on downtown streets for angle parking, and planting two semi loads of trees out at the bike park for a reforestation project.

For safety reasons, residents were reminded to stay off the old lake bed at Park Lake and to avoid any construction areas as machinery drivers may have difficulty spotting people underfoot, particularly children.

The parade route for FIlipino Heritage Month has been set and will run from Riverbend Park up Hamilton Street to Mountain Avenue, and then down Mountain Avenue to the Yellowhead Centre where the rest of the festivities will take place. Council voted to allow closure of those streets for the duration of the parade, which will begin at 1 pm on June 17.

Finally, Council approved two separate tenders to do some paving around town. One is to do patching, specifically for utility cuts and other damage. The other is paving the extension to Stonehouse Street and the repaving of stretches on the south end of Mountain and First Avenues that were significantly impacted by flood damage.

Also covered were the regional library report, two grants from the Beautiful Plains Community Foundation, and invitation to Filipino Heritage Month on June 17, a lawn tractor purchase,  a lease agreement for the airport hangar, acceptance of an engineering quote for two new CP railway crossings, minor policy updates, and the regular financial report.

During the months of July and August there will be only one council meeting, on the third Tuesday of each month. Regular Council schedule will resume in September.