RM of Gimli council plans to rescind its approval of third (final reading) of a bylaw that rezoned land in Arnes and cleared the way for the construction of a single-family dwelling along Lake Winnipeg.
Council realized it had accidentally overlooked a procedure that was to come between second and third reading of Bylaw No. 25-0006.
Bylaws require three readings with majority votes to pass.
At its Sept. 11 meeting, council heard a presentation from Santan Singh on behalf of the property’s owner, Little Maui Inc., after which deputy mayor Kurt Reichert and councillors Andy Damm, Richard Petrowski and Thora Palson (Mayor Kevin Chudd was absent with leave) passed second and third readings, voting in favour of a zoning change from open space to residential resort. Open space zones prohibit residential development.
Coun. Palson introduced a motion at a subsequent meeting to wind back third reading as the property owner must first enter into a development agreement with the municipality before council approves third reading of the zoning change.
“This is a procedural matter to bring the process back a step. The [Municipal] Act states that a council can reverse a decision at the same meeting if some new piece of information or other consideration comes up. If it’s not at the same meeting, a councillor has to present a notice of motion — which is what I did — to rescind the resolution pertaining to third reading. At the next meeting, we can vote on it,” said Palson by phone. “We missed that procedural step, that the zoning is subject to a development agreement. What we should have done is second reading then got the development agreement going. Once that’s signed, we can do third reading for Little Maui.”
Council gave first reading to the zoning change bylaw on Aug. 13. Little Maui’s application did not request a subdivision or a large-scale development, only a single-family home, and there were no public objections to it.
The Arnes property is bound by Marvelous Meadows Golf Course to the west, Arnes Road to the north and a sewage lagoon and Camp Arnes to the south. There’s a 100-foot buffer (public reserve) along Lake Winnipeg that’s not to be developed.
In the development agreement, Little Maui Inc. will be required to address flood protection levels and construction requirements as specified by Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure, Water Management, Planning and Standards’ comments.
A vote on rescinding third reading is expected to occur at council’s Oct. 8 meeting.
Other council updates:
• Council authorized the Gimli Fire Department to make new equipment purchases. The department will be purchasing a video monitoring system and a keyless door-lock system from BIL Security for $34,108.47 plus applicable taxes and two Bullard QXT thermal imaging cameras from M&L Supply at a cost of $26,636.69 plus applicable taxes. Funding for the purchases will be drawn from the Gimli Fire Department Reserve Fund.
• Council authorized the purchase of three vehicles — a recreation vehicle, a utility vehicle and a van using its 2025 capital budget.
• The RM will be purchasing two vehicles from Chudds PowerSports — a 2024 Mahindra 1120 HST 4CHTLM for $25,584 plus applicable taxes and a 2024 Argo Magnum XF 500 LE 4×4 for $10,384 plus applicable taxes — as well as a 2021 Ford Transit Connect Van XLT from Dunn Family Auto Centre for $25,950 plus applicable taxes.
• Concrete corrosion in the Gimli Wastewater Treatment Plant’s headworks building was found after the RM’s director of operations requested a concrete condition report. The RM hired ENG-TECH Consulting Ltd. to carry out an engineering inspection. The company submitted a final report in July 2025.
Council then authorized RM administration to prepare a request for proposal to hire an engineering consulting company to address the corrosion. The work will include repairs to the walls, replacing and relocating a pump lift station and installing cathodic protection at the treatment plant’s headworks building.
• Council reviewed seven bids to replace the flooring on the second storey of the Gimli Recreation Centre. It awarded the job to King’s Flooring & Furniture Gallery. It will cost $52,734 plus applicable taxes. The RM will provide $26,367 from its building reserve fund and the provincial government will provide 26,367 from the arts, culture and sport in community fund.
• Council approved an application to the Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation Fund — a joint initiative of the federal government and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities with $530 million in funding available — to complete a climate adaptation plan, and they also approved a contribution of $15,000 as a portion of the costs must be covered by a municipality.
An adaptation plan is expected to enable municipal governments to build long-term resiliency to the climate crisis, according to the FCM’s website.
• Council had approved retaining the services of HTFC to complete a trails master plan for the RM. At its Sept. 11 meeting, it authorized RM administration to “accept the trails master plan project extension from HTFC.” Council is interested in obtaining “additional traffic studies.”
• The RM posted the Gimli Community Development Corporation’s statement of revenue and expenditures for August 2025 under its Sept. 24 agenda, showing a surplus of $27,597 (year to date).
The CDC oversees the dormitory in the industrial park. It houses newcomers. The dormitory brought in $171,306 in revenue (year to date) while expenditures were $101,416 (year to date). Total CDC administrative staff expenditures were $83,365 (year to date) with $503 in legal expenditures and $2,280 in office spending. The CDC also oversees the motor sports park at the airport. Total motor sport park revenue was $62,870 (year to date) while expenditures were $10,240.
• The municipality is providing ratepayers with options to check and pay their water bills should Canada Post’s CUPW (union) strike continue past Oct. 8.
Ratepayers can create an online account at www.gimli.ca to get an e-bill, call the RM office at 20-642-6650 to request their balance or pick up their water bill in person at the municipal office at 62 Second Ave. between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Payments can be made in person at the administration building, by e-transfer (visit the website or call the RM for details), via an online account with the RM, via online banking or via an after-hours drop box at the municipal office.
Call the RM office at 204-642-6650 for more information about water bills, making other payments or receiving reimbursements.
