The second half of this week’s Neepawa Town Council meeting begins with several councillor reports, with nearly all councillors having had subcommittee meetings since the last time Town Council met.

Councillor Pottinger talks about Tourism Manitoba’s destination assessment report, which was presented earlier in the week. They discuss the strengths and weaknesses in Neepawa’s desirability and availability as a tourist destination, which prompts several creative ideas from participants in the session to strengthen our position, particularly around housing and accommodations.

Deputy Mayor Parrott discusses the physician recruitment and retention committee’s efforts to bring new doctors to our community, including training, accrediting doctors from outside of Canada and local graduates. Councillor Nadeau had several items on his plate the past two weeks, the most exciting of which being that the new committee for volunteerism and environmentalism, that is nearly done with hashing out its vision and mandate. That document will be coming before Council for approval in the near future.

Finally, Councillor Sisley reports on the Handivan’s increase in usage, including new special trips for Celebrations dinner theatre in addition to the existing casino trips. As well, she talks about the successful launch of the new ice bikes at the Yellowhead centre.

Mayor Hedley reveals the town’s new Strategic plan for the next four years and reads some highlights from the document, which focuses on the growth of the town and includes a list of the town’s priorities such as capitalizing on our strategic location within the province. This is a process that the town goes through regularly to continually examine where the town is at and to refocus their efforts for the future.The full document will be available for everyone to read on the town’s website in the near future.

Manager of Operations Denis Saquet reports that the golf course bridge has been replaced and final work is taking place on that location now. The town will soon be scraping the compacted snow and widening side streets as much as is possible to accommodate the flow of water when spring melt arrives. Councillor Gerrard expressed appreciation for how quickly the town’s plows were out after last week’s snowstorm that got Neepawa’s streets cleared well ahead of many of the surrounding area and in fact much of the province.

Swimming pool rates and swimming lesson rates will be seeing a small increase in the coming year to keep them in line with other similar facilities in the area. It was noted that the rates as they stand do not cover the costs of the pool improvements that are proceeding this summer. The town will still be shouldering much of that additional cost.

Also covered were correspondence, regular financial reports, a variance application, an annual change to campground rates, an amendment to the refunds and NSF charges policy, and the second and third reading of the bylaw to increase the fee for tax certificates.