Council Debrief: Water Lines, Water Damage, and Waterslides!

This week the Neepawa Town Council made some decisions on a couple of longstanding issues and saw progress on other projects leading into the winter months.

Before that, though, we start with explaining the basic building blocks of meeting format for anyone who might like to understand more about what’s going on in the town but may face immediate barriers with the jargon flying around.

A good chunk of the meeting was dedicated to water and infrastructure issues, particularly as it relates to the town’s growing size. Things such as water availability and water quality are not just important for residents, but are also major considerations for businesses looking at relocating to or operating in the Neepawa area. Councillor Murray Parrott and CAO Colleen Synchyshyn were involved in meetings this week about long-term water planning for the town and the possibility of adding a third well site.

Manager of Operations Denis Saquet followed with an update on the prioritisation of street work in town over the next couple of years and the completion of paving in the downtown area - particularly on Davidson Street which had been completely dug up for underground repairs - and in the new housing development on the west side of town.

Economic Development Office Marilyn Crewe reported on What’s The Big Idea?, an entrepreneurship event, and also gave a status update on the town’s Storefront Improvement Program, which began as a pilot project three years ago and has seen many main street businesses spruce up their look.

On the lighter side, the Council approved an expenditure to install a waterslide at the Neepawa Public Pool. The work will take place over the next year and the waterslide, which will empty into its own pool to not disrupt swimming, is expected to open in 2023.

The Council meeting also covered the return of public skating to the Yellowhead Centre, the success of this year’s Farm & Leisure Lottery to raise funds for the medical clinic, and the renewal of the town’s snow removal agreements as we head into the winter months. They also clarified how the new vaccination rules for federal government buildings would affect any town employees who might be called on to do any work inside the local RCMP detachment.