This week’s Neepawa Town Council meeting was kept relatively brief to allow time to reveal the Town of Neepawa’s 2023 Financial Plan. The presentation includes a reminder of the town’s vision statement and goes on to recap 2022’s completed projects, including road paving and the new RCMP building, and budgeted project plans for 2023, including the new nursing training centre as well as items from the recreation plan.

Several other details from the budget, including the proposed 2023 community grant recipients, are also reported. The town proposes an increase of 1.5% to the mill rate for 2023. 2023 is also a reassessment year, so homeowners may see increases in their tax bill this year due to the reassessment, which is done every second year to keep the information current.

The budget and related bylaw pass first reading at the meeting.

Manager of Operations Denis Saquet talks about the active transportation study that the town is embarking on, and indicates they will have a tent set up at the town fair at the end of May to gather input from residents. Spring cleanup has been interrupted by the return of winter weather, but will resume as soon as the town dries up again.

CAO Colleen Synchyshyn addresses the ongoing dispute with the federal government over municipalities having to cover retroactive pay for RCMP officers despite not being included in the salary negotiations. As well, the town has applied to the Art, Culture and Community fund for significant funds to aid with the upgrades at Riverbend Park, that address accessibility issues and also relocates infrastructure out of flood zones.

Also covered were the Handivan March statistics, a grant to support Canada Day festivities, appointment of a wildlife control officer for Neepawa, and the regular financial report.