Harv Schroeder is looking back on his first year as mayor of Altona with a blend of gratitude and pride.
“It’s been good. Of course, it always comes with challenges. But there is such a great group working around the table and town staff that make it even more rewarding.”
He says 2023 was excellent for business growth, with the community welcoming a dozen new businesses to town and major headway made on the industrial park.
“The landscaping and infrastructure, and the roadways are complete for Phase 1,” Schroeder said. “We’re already selling a lot of lots and seeing businesses already putting up buildings, while others, such as Sun Valley Tire, Bunge and Altona Farm Service have expanded.
“We’re also very excited to see the development of Tim Hortons in our town,” Schroeder said. “We’re so thankful for the hope we see in this community, and that people are seeing the need for growth in this community and responding to it. We’re thankful for their confidence and forward thinking.”
Last year saw a real estate development boom, with contractors and developers putting up new houses, apartments, and condos. Schroeder says 38 building permits were issued.
“While that’s slightly lower than the previous year, the values are higher. They’re putting their time and funds into our community and we’re deeply thankful for that.”
One of the top stories in Altona for 2023 was the Main St. renewal project.
“That was a dream for decades, beginning years ago with a letter to the province from former mayor Art Dyck,” said Schroeder. “Working with our MLA and Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation, we finally came to an agreement with some cost share, and they finally delivered on it last year. That’s been so great to see.”
Looking forward, Schroeder says council will continue to discuss future repairs to Centre Ave.
“Hopefully that will be added to their five-year plan.”
Last year also saw several infrastructure repairs in and around the community.
“The southwest drainage project on Martin Crescent was a huge item. In Phase 3, we modified the existing ditch to allow storm water to pond in the ditch rather than on the street and boulevard. We completed the south side of the dike on the southwest corner and enlarged the ditch, and working together with the farmer, we can move forward on improving our drainage system.”
New water meters were added to residences and businesses, with remote readings, a monthly reading system to detect abnormal flows, a 20-year warranty, and better data storage. Altona received a $459,923 Manitoba Water Services Board grant for 50 per cent of costs of the meters.
The community also spent $350,000 in sewer relining and manhole restoration. The soapstock relocation project was completed, with more work to be done to cover the material.
With respect to environmental stewardship, Altona added an EV charging station on the west side of the Rhineland Pioneer Centre.
“We had a Green Audit done by the Climate Action Team, and they assessed areas of impact, and created a final report,” explained Schroeder. “As part of their action plan, we implemented upgrades to the temperature control and lighting at the Millennium Exhibition Centre.”
The town also purchased an electric Zamboni to eliminate propane fumes. Public Works also planted and replaced 100 trees along town boulevards and vacant spaces.
Last year, the Accessibility Committee partnered with the local Community Garden team to create eight u-shaped raised garden beds that will be available for use in the 2024 growing season. Another addition was a crosswalk on 10th Ave. NW connecting the Altona Centennial Park path to the Millennium Drive trail.
“This is a good start and we’re thankful to those who volunteer on that board,” Schroeder said.
In terms of recreation, Altona enjoyed a great turnout for annual events such as the Manitoba Sunflower Festival, Night of Lights, Winter Carnival, the Community Garden grand opening, and Canada Day.
Approximately 43 recreation programs ran successfully in 2023, and the local Accessibility Committee focused on specific areas of concern at the park and local recreational facilities.
Looking ahead, Schroeder says council will continue making decisions for the Town of Altona based on their strategic plan and priorities by making fiscally responsible decisions, practicing good environmental stewardship, and preparing for sustainable growth.
“I want to wish the community of Altona a great New Year and thank them for doing what they do,” he said. “We’re going into 2024 on an optimistic note. We’ve seen a lot of progress in the past year; it’s always good to move forward and see new things. But you have to look back, too. Things don’t last and they often need repairing. So, we also have to plan ahead and fix what we leave behind.”
