Gimli council appointed an interim assistant chief administrative officer (ACAO) last month to assist its acting CAO with the overall operation of the municipality after the RM experienced some turnover at the senior management level.
Christine Payne, who was serving as the RM’s community engagement manager, replaced assistant CAO Kelly Cosgrove, who recently assumed the acting CAO job after former CAO Trilbee Stirling-Kattler resigned after about three months on the job.
Payne said she was appointed on March 31, and that there was no council resolution necessary for the appointment.
Although Payne is no longer listed as the RM’s community engagement manager on its administrative staff webpage, she said she will continue to “facilitate” both her community engagement role and the interim ACAO position.
Other council news:
At its April 9 regular meeting, council approved the operation of a dog grooming business – Sandy Paws Grooming – at a residence at 13 Holar Cres. in the Sandy Hook subdivision.
The home business will be subject to a number of bylaw rules, including that it not detract from the neighbourhood and be carried on solely by members of the family residing there.
Payne said that in the opinion of council, Sandy Paws won’t create a nuisance and not generate undue traffic and parking issues in the neighbourhood.
Information about how councillors voted was unavailable.
Sandy Paws’ owner, Brittany Morello, said in a submission to council that she plans to open on Fridays for now, but that she’d like her home business to become a full-time occupation once she builds clientele. Once that happens, she’d be operating Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., grooming three to five dogs.
“There will be a minimum 15 minute break between each appointment to ensure the traffic flow is not disturbed,” said Morello in her submission. “In the event clients happen to [overlap], we have enough parking for three extra cars in the driveway.”
Morello added that some benefits of having her grooming service include having a locally operated service, limiting unnecessary travel to commercial groomers, reducing traffic in other areas, and encouraging “small business growth while preserving the residential environment.”
The RM received two letters of objection to Sandy Paws Grooming.
“Please note I love all animals and have owned dogs a great part of my life. I do believe that if this is approved, there will be no further checking up [or] monitoring if this business increases in size, and/or if there are complaints about more traffic, noise etc., they will not be addressed,” wrote one Sandy Hook resident. “I believe that this type of business should be located in the town of Gimli or Winnipeg Beach, not in residential cottage area.”
The second objection letter from a couple also noted traffic concerns and the reason why they bought their residence when they re-located from the city.
“We specifically chose this residence because of the quiet location free from flow-through traffic, especially in the wintertime,” they wrote. “Any amount of increased traffic due to a business being operated on Holar Crescent will have an absolute detrimental effect on our quiet neighborhood [sic].”
-Council considered an amendment to a medical clinic incentive agreement that it had approved last year at its Nov. 20, 2024, special meeting.
Dr. Adeniyi Adegbesan is building a clinic beside Shoreside GM on PR 231. Dr. Adegbesan had agreed to provide full-time family doctor services until the end of 2029, according to information the Express had obtained from the RM in December. Information about the exact amount of the incentive was not provided at that time, but the RM had agreed to cover the cost of bringing water, sewer and electrical services to the building.
“The amended medical center incentive agreement was tabled for further information,” said Payne in response to questions about the details of the amendment at council’s April 9 meeting. “No vote was taken as it was tabled.”
-Council appointed Payne to the RM’s Gimli Waterfront Wetland Interpretive Centre Steering Committee.
-Council discussed creating a new entity – the Gimli Airport Working Group – to oversee airport matters, and terms of reference for the group are being drafted.
The resolution to create the new entity states that Gimli’s aviation history since the 1940s has “enhanced” the municipality’s relationship with both the provincial and federal governments, that the RM has “direct influence over air industry economic and social benefits,” and that the operating agreement with the provincial government, which owns the airport, is in a “six-year holdover for renegotiation.”
“Airport talks” have occurred with the province since January 2024, and agreements have been made with the federal department of national defence (DND) under the guidance of the province.
But a reduction in an undefined number of municipal staff who are required for renegotiation has “stalled” the process.
“Whereas the reduction in RM staff dedicated to the renegotiation efforts has stalled the process, and whereas potential enhancements to airport activity, aviation clients and the associated regional economic and social benefit spin-offs to the municipality are equally stalled without a new agreement,” states the resolution shared by Payne.
“Be it resolved that the Airport Working Group (AWG) led by Councillor Andy Damm, RM Council, and administrative staff, including Brian Renaud, Airport Manager, Kelly Cosgrove, Accountable Executive for CYGM [Gimli Industrial Park Airport], and contract subject matter experts, proceed with negotiations toward an operating agreement with the Province of Manitoba. Relevant steps by the AWG leading to a formal agreement regarding CYGM, are to be vetted and agreed by RM Gimli Council, and administration, if required, be tasked with providing Terms of Reference for the AWG.”
-Council reviewed a request from Ukrainian Park for a letter of support regarding a Jubilee and Canadian flag anniversary program.
“A letter of support was requested for the Ukrainian Park by the Executive Director for a Jubilee and Canadian Flag Anniversary Program,” said Payne. “The program aims to provide critical emotional and physical support to the community and refugees, promoting reconciliation and community celebration.”
-Council posted its compensation and expenses (cumulative) under its April 9 agenda.
As of March 31, 2025, council’s total payroll was $41,037.51 and its total expenses were $1,182.35. A breakdown of salary and expenses by councillor is available under the agenda.
-The provincial government’s department of transportation and infrastructure said it will be replacing culverts this summer that are part of the Fish Lake Drain, which flows from the west and drains into Lake Winnipeg. Corrugated steel pipe culverts were washed out at McElheran Road, north of Gimli, during a 2022 flooding event.
“Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure … has completed the design of the proposed replacement structure in order to restore the crossing and re-establish access along McElheran Road in the Rural Municipality of Gimli,” states the department in a newsletter the RM posted under its meeting agenda.
The proposed new drainage structure will consist of a triple-cell reinforced concrete box culvert bridge with retaining walls and a water-control drop structure downstream of the bridge to “further control” water flow exiting the channel.
Construction is expected to start in June and be completed between June and September. Earthworks, roadworks and final construction is expected to wrap up in October, according to the newsletter.
