This week’s Neepawa Town Council meeting begins with a delegation asking for consideration to be able to keep in excess of the number of dogs currently allowed under Town of Neepawa bylaws, based on medical benefit. This limit under discussion is found in Town of Neepawa Bylaw 3001, Part IV, Section 9, which reads, in part:

"No person shall own, harbour, keep or have in his possession or control or on his premises, more than two (2) dogs over the age of three (3) months, regardless of the number of people who may be inhabiting the premises."

Council will consider the request but renders no decision at this time.

In Council Reports: Councillor Gerrard talks about some needed upgrades and repairs for the County Courthouse in the near future. Councillor Sisley reports on the recent Winter Wonderland Festival, and specifically on the pancake breakfast which raised over $1000 towards a handheld cutter for the jaws of life, which will cost the Neepawa Fire Department about $6000 in total. As well, she congratulates the organisers for two very successful events over the past couple of weeks: The Viterra Men’s Provincial Curling Championships and The Beautiful Plains Community Foundation’s Dancing With the Stars fundraiser. Councillor Nadeau notes that Westlake Employment also has some resources for training programs, including Class 1 Truck Driver Training and an LPN program. Interested parties should inquire with Westlake.

The Municipality of Clanwilliam-Ericson has written to ask for assistance with their airport reconstruction project, which due to escalating construction costs will cost them more than expected. Ericson Airport is one of the only refuelling stations in the area for the Stars Air Ambulance out of Winnipeg, allowing them to reach more remote parts of the province.

While Council will consider the request, they are also looking into whether it would be possible for Neepawa to become a refuelling location in the future. Neepawa currently holds no accessible fuel at the airport; any fuel located there currently is in private tanks.

Whitemud Watershed has increased its levy for the first time in several years. This levy, which has been assessed at 10,115.55 for Neepawa, is applied only to the portion of the town which falls within Whitemud Watershed’s boundaries, and not the entire town. In addition to rising costs generally, the main reason for the increase is to address the damage from flooding over the past few years as well as look into preventative measures that would not have a negative impact on the watershed.

Each year the Manitoba Water Services Board asks the town for a five-year projection for capital projects. The Water Services Board can make significant contributions to these projects, most of which are in excess of one million dollars. This year’s list includes a new well site and the highway 16 water main extension as Neepawa’s top two priorities.

We conclude with first reading of a bylaw to change the zoning of a parcel of land from industrial light to mobile modular home. There are also some additional changes to allow conditional uses allowing for multiple units in addition to singular units. The bylaw will next go to a public hearing for comment.

Also covered were routine town operations activities, a call for resolutions from the Transcanada Yellowhead Highway association, renewal of our mass notification connect system, and approval for a Canada Day fireworks display, .