The Morden Chamber of Commerce is weighing in on the question of what is being done to address wastewater treatment in Morden.
A recent open letter from the chamber to the City of Morden stressed a need for clarity on the plan as it cited wastewater as the single most significant constraint on business development.
The chamber wants to engage with the city through ongoing consultations with the business community, said chairperson Tyler Schroeder.
“The wastewater issue has been an ongoing concern deserving of renewed attention. It is a major topic of conversation within the business community and community at large,” Schroeder said via e-mail.
He said the chamber is committed to supporting its members and is seeking ways to positively contribute and to propel the business community forward.
One of their four primary goals is to provide a voice for the business community, and Schroeder said there is no bigger issue the community is facing today than its wastewater capacity.
“It is a generational issue that requires an urgent and aggressive solution to ensure that our community and region can remain an economic powerhouse within southern Manitoba, the province of Manitobam and Canada,” he said.
The chamber’s letter asked three key questions of city council:
• What specific actions has the city undertaken to address this issue, and is there anything that the business community can be doing to help?
• What options are being considered; what are the associated costs for each option, and how will it be financed?
• What is the expected timeline for implementation, and can you provide a roadmap with key milestones that will indicate progress?
“We understand that due to budget constraints, increased costs, and a flawed infrastructure funding model, the city is in the unenviable position of having to resolve a difficult problem that lacks any readily apparent solution,” said Schroeder.
“In our effort to help the city navigate these challenges, the chamber of commerce has engaged in conversations with the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, the finance minister, the local MLA and MP, and we have committed to drafting a policy resolution in 2025 that would highlight some of the major constraints with the current infrastructure funding model,”he continued. “As we work towards achieving our goals, we will foster open communication, transparency, and will share with our members the information and feedback.
“Our goal in this instance is to collaboratively engage with the City of Morden to obtain clarity on the questions identified within our letter,” Schroeder concluded. “The business community is asking for clarity on the plan to address this issue along with an understanding of where we’re at within the plan to track progress and re-instill investor confidence.”
The Voice did reach out to Mayor Nancy Penner, who declined to comment at this time, noting, however, she may have more to say on the matter in the coming weeks.
