Woodlands council gave first reading to a bylaw to borrow $2.235 million to pay for the municipality’s portion of the regional water project.
The first reading took place at the regular council meeting scheduled for Oct. 14, after press deadline.
In partnership with the Town of Stonewall, the RM of Woodlands plans to build a new reverse osmosis water treatment plant on 5th Street West in Stonewall. The project also includes new water supply reservoirs in Stonewall and in Warren, new supply wells in Stonewall and a water supply pipeline from Stonewall to Warren.
The total estimated cost of the project is $33.3 million. Infrastructure Canada Improvement Program will provide $21 million in funding and the Manitoba Water Services Board will provide $2,279,113. The Town of Stonewall will contribute $5,408,843. The RM of Woodlands would provide $2,306,320 from the reserves and utility surplus, and another $2.235 million would be funded by borrowing by the RM of Woodlands.
If approved, the borrowing would be repaid over a maximum of 25 years at a maximum interest rate of 6.25 per cent.
Including principal and interest, the annual repayment amount would be no more than $180,000 to be levied on the water rates of the Warren utility as a debenture surcharge estimated to be $3.91 per cubic metre, based on the estimated average yearly usage.
Copies of the proposal are available on the RM of Woodlands website at www.rmwoodlands.ca.
In other council news:
• Council approved an updated internal municipal equipment sharing agreement between the RM of Woodlands and Local Urban District of Warren to facilitate the use of vehicles, equipment and machinery.
“The equipment sharing agreement allows the municipality to share vehicles and equipment across different districts to improve efficiency while also ensuring that the related costs are charged to the appropriate area — either the rural area or the Local Urban District of Warren,” said CAO Kaitlyn Griffith.
• Woodlands council gave second and third readings to a bylaw to create a reserve fund for personal care homes. Coun. Darryl Langrell was absent from the vote.
• Council will donate $5,000 to Warren Collegiate Institute’s parent advisory council for their track revival project. The funds will come from the recreation reserve fund.
• Transfer station attendant Bret Lacombe is authorized to attend the MARR Manitoba Community Recycling and Waste Reduction Forum in Winnipeg on Oct. 15 and 16.
• Coun. Lorna Broadfoot, Coun. Carl Fleury and Reeve Douglas Oliver are authorized to attend the Interlake Community Foundations 2025 grant celebration on Nov. 4 at Warren Memorial Hall.
• Council will purchase a table at the South West District Palliative Care’s annual gala dinner and dance at the legion hall in Stonewall on Nov. 22 at a cost of $1,000 plus tax.
• Property taxes for 2025 are due on Oct. 31. The RM of Woodlands accepts cash, cheque, e-transfer or direct deposit, but it doesn’t accept debit or credit card. For more information, contact the RM of Woodlands office at admin@rmwoodlands.ca or 204-383-5679.
• The RM of Woodlands board of revision took place in the council chambers on Oct. 14.
