Security improvements, flood recovery efforts and future water-retention opportunities were among the key topics discussed during the Rural Municipality of Grahamdale’s regular council meeting on May 28.
Council approved the installation of additional security cameras at the municipal office following a break-in on May 21.
Assistant CAO Devan McCoubrey said the municipality already had security cameras in place but identified areas requiring additional coverage to eliminate blind spots.
The decision follows the theft of a utility task vehicle (UTV) and trailer used by the Moosehorn Fire Department. The trailer was later recovered, but the UTV remains missing.
Council approved spending $3,176.32 plus taxes for the purchase and installation of the additional cameras.
The municipality is also dealing with the effects of unusually heavy rainfall this spring.
McCoubrey said some areas of Grahamdale have received as much as 12 inches of rain, resulting in widespread infrastructure damage.
Although the municipality did not declare a state of local emergency, it plans to access Disaster Financial Assistance funding. Approximately 80 sites across the municipality have already been identified for repairs.
Road infrastructure remains a major priority. Council discussed the municipality’s 2026 gravel program, which will see approximately 144 miles of road resurfaced using roughly 22,000 tonnes of gravel.
Council also approved an amendment to its gravel-hauling contract to account for rising fuel costs.
Water management was another topic of discussion as representatives from the West Interlake Watershed District and the GROW Committee met with council.
The groups provided information about water-retention projects, including the installation of three weirs designed to help refill marshes and wetlands while slowing spring runoff. McCoubrey said the presentation was informational, although similar projects could potentially be explored in the future.
Council also approved the hiring of Ryan Banman to conduct fire safety inspections within the municipality as required under provincial legislation.
Local fire departments continue to stay busy. The Gypsumville Fire Department responded to four grass fires during the previous two weeks, while the Moosehorn Fire Department reported three fire calls, one mutual-aid fire call and one mutual-aid EMS assist.
In development matters, council held a public hearing regarding a proposed amendment to the municipal development plan involving land near Steep Rock.
The amendment would redesignate a portion of land from Parks, Recreation and Open Space to Lake Residential to accommodate a proposed 47-lot private subdivision, while redesignating another parcel from Lake Residential to Parks, Recreation and Open Space.
McCoubrey noted no concerns were raised during the public hearing. She explained the redesignation was necessary because land designated as Parks, Recreation and Open Space cannot be subdivided.
Council also approved a subdivision application that would create a 5.01-acre farmstead from a larger agricultural parcel.
Among other business, council approved seasonal grass-cutting and garbage collection contracts for Moosehorn, Gypsumville and Steep Rock, authorized a two-day trapping workshop in Moosehorn and supported Assistant CAO Devan McCoubrey’s nomination to the Interlake Tourism Association board of directors.
Council heard an update from the Age in Place working group, which is partnering with Access Credit Union to help seniors travel to Ashern for banking services.
McCoubrey described the initiative as “incredibly important,” noting some residents do not have access to personal transportation and rely on such services to maintain their independence.
“I know this is hard for some people to imagine in rural Manitoba, but this is absolutely a reality for some of our residents,” she said. “While our Moosehorn seniors are fortunate to have many services close at hand, not everything is available locally. The loss of our local branch creates very real limitations for some of our residents, and senior assisted travel is a vital service to help residents maintain their independence and remain in the RM of Grahamdale for as long as possible.”
