At the June 25 meeting, the Woodlands Council announced they would lobby the province of Manitoba for a program in which they could apply for funding for disaster assistance for gravel road maintenance. Woodlands is the fourteenth municipality to submit a resolution like this to the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, which will forward it to the Minister.
The winter of 2023 brought above-normal precipitation in parts of southern Manitoba along with repeated bouts of record-breaking warm temperatures, shattering many long-standing records in December and February, followed by significant and unusual rainfall events in the spring of 2024.
These weather events have resulted in saturated road bases and washouts, making it extremely challenging and costly for rural municipalities like Woodlands to maintain gravel road networks in adequate condition. The financial burden of repairing and maintaining these roads has significantly strained the budgets of southern Manitoba rural municipalities.
Council hopes the province will release funding for municipalities struggling with road conditions this year. In the meantime, the council will continue to work within the budget it approved, which featured a significant increase to road gravelling due to the recent conditions.
The RM of Woodlands continues to work with the Town of Stonewall on a regional water project. The RM is currently working on inspecting and testing the water lines in Woodlands, which will impact the project’s total cost. CAO Kaitlyn Griffith said the RM plans to have open houses in the fall to provide residents with updates on cost, timelines, and project information.
At the June 11 meeting, the council announced an invitation for proposals from the community for recreation programming, using funds totalling $41,000 from the return of their 2023 contribution to the Rosser-Woodlands Recreation Commission. So far, the council has granted $8,500 to two organizations. They have received four proposals, the others of which did not meet the programming criteria. The council has set an initial deadline of July 31 and will reevaluate after that.
In other council news:
Council passed the first reading of its by-law, which sets out the terms of employment for non-union employees (like office staff). It was amended to reduce the probation period for health and dental benefits from six months to three months and clarify compensation for travel time.
– Council approved a variance to allow the construction of a fence within the front yard setback of a property, as some residents expressed concerns about the fence’s impact on traffic sightlines. Council also authorized to change the yield signs on Road 75N at that intersection of Road4W to stop signs to ensure drivers do not proceed through the intersection unless it is safe to do so. CAO Griffith said the cost to taxpayers is minimal. The impact to residents is that they must stop at the intersection instead of yielding.
– Council approved the listing of their property located at Lot 7 Block 1 Plan 49612 WLTO, 10 Ed Peltz Drive. The property has been listed at $175,000.
– Council agreed to increase the maximum hours that can be banked for public works employees from 100 to 250 straight time hours for 2024. CAO Grifith said public works employees are in favour of it. This change is intended to reduce the amount of overtime paid out, as it means employees can bank more and use it as time off instead. It is an option, not a requirement, and was brought forward because of the unusual amount of overtime required this year due to the poor road conditions.
– The quote from Maxim for $65,500 for a used semi-truck was approved. Council had budgeted $150,000 of a used semi truck to support its increased gravel program. The RM authorized the purchase of a used belly dump trailer for $27,000 from Conquest Truck & Auto, to be funded from the remaining funds budgeted for the semi. The purchase was under budget by $27,000. CAO Griffith said they will stay in the reserve if the remaining funds are not used this year.
– Council accepted the quote from Interlake Crane for $2,125 plus applicable taxes for the installation of two columbaria from the cemetery budget.
– Last year, the former Erinview Fire Hall building burned down. The RM authorized the issuance of RFP 005-24, in hopes of reconstructing a new community building in Erinview under the RFQ, using the insurance funds. The RFQ is available on the website.
– Council declined the installation of a 4-way stop at Hanlan Street and Railway Ave. in Warren. The request was brought forward by a resident of the LUD Committee. Council did not feel it was necessary to restrict traffic on this street due to the existing 2-way stop signs at the intersection, and the two 4-way stop signs before and after the intersection.
