The RM of Rosser is on track to promoting a safer community by supporting national Rail Safety Week from Sept. 15 to 21.
In 2024, a total of 261 railway crossing and trespassing incidents occurred, which resulted in 68 avoidable fatalities and 58 avoidable serious injuries. Public education about rail safety can help to reduce these incidents between citizens and trains.
It’s important for everyone to remember that railway rights-of-way are private property. Pedestrians and motorists should always be looking and listening near railways. Members of the public should obey established traffic laws and be aware of the dangers associated with highway rail grade crossings.
“With the mainline of CPKC running through the entire length of the municipality and CN, Prairie Rail Solutions and the Prairie Dog having tracks and trains moving as well in our RM, rail safety is very important to this council,” said Reeve Ken Mulligan.
“Many crossing are uncontrolled and therefore council doesn’t want everyone to become complacent with safety. As well, our three major grain terminals and eventually the CentrePort Rail Park will have many movements of trains. We need to keep on top of reminding the public about rail safety.”
Council adopted the resolution to support efforts to raise awareness, save lives and prevent injuries — including in the RM of Rosser.
In other council news:
• Council will not be supporting a rural residential area designation in the area of Meridian Road and Road 70N. In addition, council is requesting that the South Interlake Planning District remove the designation of this proposed rural residential area from its draft development plan.
“After council heard from some residents in the immediate area voicing their concerns, and after discussing as a council, we chose to take a step back from having the current designation in the development plan,” Mulligan said.
“This will allow us in the future to decide how to study the need for rural residential development and to ensure the residents have all the proper information that’s needed.”
• The RM of Rosser has launched a new permitting portal for all lot grade, culvert, sewer and water permit applications. More info is posted on the RM of Rosser’s website at rmofrosser.com.
“The RM is in the process of launching a new permitting system to improve the efficiency and transparency of its permitting process. The online system will enable applicants to submit, track and manage their permits more easily, while also giving staff better tools for processing and record-keeping,” Mulligan said.
“This step reflects the RM’s commitment to modernizing its services and providing a more accessible and user-friendly experience for residents and businesses.”
• Council approved a $10,497.68 quote from Alcom Electric Communications to buy 10 Motorola UHF R2 portable radios and accessories for the Rosser Fire Department.
• Council is recommending that the Province of Manitoba rename some provincial service roads in an effort to help emergency services to locate addresses. The proposed new names include Holmes Road, Ulster Road, Angus Road, White Tail Drive, Wavey Way, Badger Road, Lawson Drive, Fieldstone Way and Bridle Path.
“After a few major incidents of challenges ambulance services had in locating addresses on the West Perimeter service roads, the RM began working with the Office of the Fire Commissioner and the province to explore solutions,” Mulligan said. “After discussions, renaming these service roads and eventually having these names used by multiple mapping software is believed to be a very positive tool for emergency responders to find addresses more efficiently.”
• Council approved a $300 sponsorship for the Teulon and District Agricultural Society’s 32nd Pumpkinfest.
• All of council is authorized to attend the Red River Basin Commission’s 10th annual south chapter holiday gala on Nov. 13 in Morris. Expenses will be paid.
• The RM will purchase advertising in the Legion Military Service Recognition Book for $323.81 plus GST.
• The RM of Rosser is entering into an agreement with Canada Post for the continued operation of the Post Point Dealership (previously called the Pick and Drop) retail location at the municipal office. In addition, Canada Post reviewed addresses within the RM of Rosser and requests amending addresses under the current postal code of R0H 1E0 to be consistent with the rest of the municipality. Council will allow Canada Post to assign mailing addresses for this area and to assign new postal codes if needed.
“The RM entered into an agreement with Canada Post in 2023 to establish a Pick and Drop retail location at the municipal office following the sudden closure of the Rosser Post Office. This arrangement was put in place to ensure continued access to parcel deliveries in the village of Rosser, instead of being transferred for pickup in Winnipeg. The recent agreement passed by council is a renewal of that service,” Mulligan said.
“This year, the postal outlet in Grosse Isle also closed. The RM worked with Canada Post to pilot having the Grosse Isle parcels also come to the RM office instead of Stonewall. We are still under that pilot for Grosse Isle packages. We will make more certain decisions after seeing the Christmas volumes and determining if the municipal office can handle them effectively.
• The RM of Rosser has hired Trevor Wowk as the assistant chief administrative officer and the chief financial officer for the municipality. Wowk started working on July 7 to replace Don Dowle, who has retired from those roles. In addition, Wowk has been appointed as a designated officer.
“While Don has left this permanent position, we are pleased to share that he will continue working with the RM in a part-time consulting capacity, focusing on special and major projects,” Mulligan said.
“Council and the CAO thank Don for his three-and-a-half years of amazing and dedicated work to Rosser as a whole.”
At the same time Dowle said it has been a real honour to be part of the RM of Rosser over the past several years.
“I was able to go to work every day inspired by the strong leadership shown by council and our CAO,” Dowle said.
“I have enjoyed the privilege of working with a wonderful crew of dedicated municipal employees who care about this community and showed me that every day. While I am looking forward to the opportunities that retirement brings, I will truly miss everyone and cherish my time as part of the Rosser team.”
• Council gave second reading to an amended bylaw to establish water and wastewater rates for the Grosse Isle Utility.
CAO Larry Wandowich explained that the RM monitors the financial viability of the utility on an ongoing basis. Rate applications to PUB are made on an as-needed based on this monitoring or when there is a PUB order to do so.
In 2020, a PUB order required the RMs of Rosser and Rockwood, who jointly own the utility, to perform a rate review and submit an application for revised rates. The RM of Rosser completed a rate review in 2024 and submitted the application to revise rates.
“This process is a routine part of the general responsibilities for municipalities to manage the utility and comply with PUB requirements,” Wandowich said.
• The RM of Rosser will enter into an agreement with Sturgeon Creek Holding Co. Ltd. regarding a conditional use.
In early 2024, Sturgeon Creek Holding applied for conditional use approval to authorize the intensification of an existing communal farm operation (Sturgeon Creek Colony) — including a new boiler and biomass storage building, new welding shop, new residential buildings and new agricultural/farm buildings — as part of their ongoing operations and replacement strategies. Even though Sturgeon Creek had existed for many years, this application was newly required. Council recently passed a resolution to execute the final development agreement.
