Road Issues Continue to Plague RM of Rosedale

This month, the RM of Rosedale council heard from a delegation on road maintenance concerns, reviewed bridge repair funding opportunities, and addressed a longstanding non-compliance issue, along with other pieces of municipal business.

Road Repairs
Road conditions remain a frequent topic in Rosedale, which spans a large area but has a relatively small population. Most roads are gravel, making them especially vulnerable to seasonal wear. Snowplowing in the winter, flooding during spring melt, and summer grading and gravelling all contribute to ongoing challenges. Adding to this is the turnover within the public works department, which means new staff are often learning the most effective ways to manage local roads while facing immediate demands from residents.

Colin McDonald, a longtime resident of the municipality, attended the meeting to share concerns about the state of roads in his area. He also brought forward practical suggestions for improving their condition. Council also reviewed a work request from John Cversko, who voiced similar frustrations about road maintenance. Cversko had been maintaining a stretch of road near his property on his own and proposed continuing to do so to his own standards. The discussion centred on how the municipality could apply consistent road standards across the RM while also responding to individual requests. After some debate, council approved his request.

Provincial Funding for Infrastructure
Bridge maintenance also came up, as the RM has been steadily working to repair and replace structures that were heavily damaged by flooding in recent years. Council discussed applying to the Manitoba GRO program, which supports capital projects in roads, bridges, and active transportation. The program provides up to 50 percent of eligible costs for municipalities outside Winnipeg, making it a significant funding source for Rosedale’s infrastructure needs. Councillors noted that while significant progress has been made, several bridges still require urgent attention, and provincial assistance will be key to moving those projects forward.

Dealing with Non-Compliance
Council also revisited a case dating back to 2019 involving a property owner who had erected a fence on a municipal road allowance. Despite multiple instructions from council to remove it, the fence remained. More recently, the individual put up a gate across the same road allowance, drawing complaints from nearby residents who rely on the access. The administration has been directed to send a final warning to the property owner, notifying them that if the obstruction is not removed, municipal staff will clear it using equipment at the property owner’s expense.

Other Business
Additional items discussed included correspondence received and filed, confirmation of councillors’ attendance at the upcoming AMM 2025 Fall Convention, and approach requests handled under the municipality’s new bylaw. Council also received an update on the installation of fiber optic infrastructure across the RM, which promises to improve internet access for rural residents, and approved a correction to the tax roll.

Overall, the September meeting highlighted the familiar rural challenges of road upkeep and infrastructure funding, alongside the ongoing need to enforce municipal bylaws fairly and consistently across the RM.