RM of Woodlands Fire Chief Dean Campbell and Deputy Fire Chief Debbie Buchanan will be leaving their positions on Feb. 27. In their place, Grant Palmer will take on the role of Fire Chief, effective the same day. While no longer in their current roles, both Campbell and Buchanan will continue to be involved with the Fire Department. Campbell will now serve as the Fire Inspector, while Buchanan will become a firefighter.
On Feb. 28, 2023, the RM of Woodlands entered into an agreement with Silverbridge Land Development Inc. The agreement states that the developer is responsible for all costs the municipality incurs, such as engineering, legal, and planning costs. Currently, there are outstanding invoices for engineering and legal fees that the municipality incurred throughout the course of the development, totalling $1,925.35. If the past due invoices are not paid by March 31, the RM of Woodlands will call on the security.
On June 25, 2013, an agreement was made between the RM, Silverbridge Land Development Inc., and Riddell Farm Ent. This agreement has outstanding invoices totaling $2,637.99 due by March 31. As part of the same agreement, a resolution was passed on June 22, 2021, stating that seeding of the ditches must be completed by Oct. 31, 2021. If not completed by this date, there is a possibility for reapplication in the spring of 2022 at the council’s discretion. However, if seeding is still not done by Oct. 31, 2021, the RM reserved the right to use the $20,000 security to complete it. So far, this has not been completed. In order to ensure completion of these ditches within the agreed timeframe, the RM of Woodlands will utilize the security to seed them if they are not successfully completed by June 15, 2024.
The municipality holds security every time they have a development. The purpose of the security is so that if the developer doesn’t complete something, the RM can use these funds to complete the project rather than using taxpayer dollars. In this case, CAO Kaitlyn Griffith says this developer has been working with them and intends to pay the invoices before the deadline, so they do not perceive the need to use the security.
The regular council meeting on April 9, is cancelled as council members will attend the Manitoba Good Roads Association’s Annual Banquet and Awards Program. The next council meeting is scheduled for April 23 at 5 p.m. If issues arise, council can call an additional meeting. A committee of the whole meeting is scheduled for April 16.
In other council news:
– Council gave first and second reading to a bylaw to revise and update the Policy and Standards for the Construction of Private Approaches and the Installation of Culverts in Private Approaches in the RM of Woodlands. There was an administrative error that needed to be corrected in the bylaw. Council noticed the bylaw repealed itself instead of repealing the bylaw proceeding it, so the change was made. No other content has changed.
– Council appointed Michael Dola of the Rockwood-Rosser-Stonewall-Teulon Weed District as the 2024 Weed Inspector. Council hasn’t set the 2024 weed control budget yet. In 2023, the RM spent $23,458.21 on these services. Since 2004, the RM has spent roughly $23,000 annually on weed control. The budget needs to be submitted by May 15. CAO Griffith says that council will likely hold a public hearing sometime in April.
– The RM of Woodlands purchased a bronze-level sponsorship for the Warren Minor Hockey U15 Provincial Tournament for $50.
– Council will issue a letter of support for Warren Collegiate Institute’s Outdoor Space Revival Project. The project is to fix up the outdoor track area at Warren Collegiate, which is a space used by both the school and community members. It is not a municipal project.
– Council authorized Douglas Oliver, Carl Fleury, Lorna Broadfoot, CAO Kaitlyn Griffith, Public Works Foreman Dave Kozyra and two public works employees to attend the AMM Spring Convention from April 9-11, in Brandon. The cost to attend the event is $350 per registrant for council and the CAO, who attend the whole conference. Public Works registration is $50 per person. These costs do not include taxes, hotels, and mileage.
– Council authorized Oliver, Fleury, Broadfoot, CAO Griffith, public works foreman Kozyra and two public works employees to attend the Manitoba Good Roads Association’s 112th Annual Banquet and Awards Program. The banquet will be held in Brandon on April 9 for $65 per person.
– Council authorized the purchase of a new laptop for the fire department, including accessories and setup fees for $1,487.55.
– Council will issue a request for quotes for the 2024 gravel hauling and spreading. Quotes are due April 19. More information can be found on the RM website.
– Council authorized Coun. Valerie Stelck, Coun. Bryan Myskiw, CAO Griffith, and Public Works employees are to attend the Manitoba Good Roads Association Managing and Maintaining Gravel Roads Seminar being held on March 20 and 21 in Woodlands.
– Council will request quotes for septic tank pump outs for 2024 to 2026. Quotes are due April 12. More information can be found on the RM website.
