Do you know your snow-clearing zone? Stonewall elementary school students do!
Students at Ecole RW Bobby Bend School are participating in a “Know Your Zone” colouring contest with information about the town’s snow zones.
The colouring sheet shows a map of the town, and students start by colouring their snow zone. For those who live outside of Stonewall, they will colour the school’s snow zone. After that, they need to get the signature of a parent, who will hopefully remember their family’s snow zone.
The corporate services department is about to begin snow zone communication efforts to residents in preparation for winter.
“We want to try to reach as many households as possible so that they are aware of the snow zones, how they work and how the notification process works,” said Marilisa Voth, corporate services manager.
“By sending a colouring sheet home with all the elementary students, we hope it gets the information into a few more homes.”
Students who bring their colouring sheet back to their teacher by Nov. 15 will be entered to win a prize.
In other council news:
– Council hosted a public hearing related to a request to vary the minimum dwelling area requirement to 362 square feet from 600 square feet to allow for a studio apartment to be included in the Phase 2 expansion of 27 units at The Renaissance.
Located on 3rd Avenue South, The Renaissance is a four-storey 50-plus rental apartment development that’s been built over two phases. Phase 1 features 33 units that were built in 2020 at 600 3rd Ave. South. Phase 2 will have 27 units that will be built in 2024-25 at 650 3rd Ave. South.
These Phase 2 units include two floor plans that would require a variance. Suite D is a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit spanning 596 square feet, while suite G is a studio-style unit spanning 362 square feet. The maximum floor space in Phase 2 is 1,270 square feet.
These units would allow the applicants to qualify for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s multi-unit mortgage loan insurance select program, and provide access to an affordable place to live.
“It is our belief that there is a need for age in place housing in the Town of Stonewall, and that there is an unmet need for smaller, more affordable housing that these units will help The Renaissance meet,” wrote Tim Comack, Ventura’s vice-president of development, in a letter of intent.
According to the applicants, the studio units would create housing opportunities for older family members, as well as for people visiting the town for an extended stay. In addition, the one-bedroom apartments would allow widowed residents to have a place to call home in the community.
South Interlake Planning District did not have any significant concerns with the request. Council approved the request.
– Stonewall council considered a conditional use request to allow an electronic sign to be installed on a free-standing business sign for Home Hardware on Main Street.
The applicants would like to upgrade the existing reader board to an electronic LED sign, which would allow Home Hardware to update messages more efficiently with less risk to employees. They would have remote access to monitor and ensure proper functioning of the sign.
The proposed sign would be 113 inches wide by 47inches tall. It would be mounted on the bottom part of the existing pylon sign at the west entrance to Home Hardware.
The sign would be equipped with ambient light sensors that will automatically adjust their brightness level based on actual light conditions.
The nearest residence is about 224 feet away, with vegetation that would provide screening between the home and the sign.
South Interlake Planning District did not have any significant concerns with the request. Council approved the request.
– The Town of Stonewall submitted a simplified application for water rates to the Public Utilities Board for 2025. A portion of the application requires regulatory adjustments for the 2023 utility year-end financial statement, resulting in a deficit.
Council approved an application for a $125,095 utility operating deficit for 2023.
To recover the deficit, the town will use existing utility surplus funds that currently have a balance of $15.3 million as of December 2022.
– Council gave first reading to a bylaw to establish new criteria and guidelines for the installation and construction of residential driveways onto public streets. This is administrative changes to make the wording the same for the driveway and lot grade bylaws.
Council also gave first reading to a bylaw related to the regulation and control of animals within town limits. Council is looking to extend the time an animal could be held before a final decision must be made regarding euthanizing the animal.
In addition, council gave first reading to a bylaw to regulate traffic. Council indicated they would review the new traffic bylaw implemented in the winter of 2024 after it had been in place for a while to see if any changes were needed, and this bylaw would allow for those changes.
Council also established a policy for the application process for hosting a parade in conjunction with the town’s traffic bylaw, as well as a policy for requests for recognition by town council with criteria to evaluate the requests.
– Mayor Sandra Smith was authorized to attend the Health Workforce Development Coalition on Oct. 30 at the Selkirk Regional Health Centre, and costs will be paid according to the municipal indemnity bylaw.
– This year’s tax bill includes several levies. The kiln restoration levy goes towards the portion of the town’s contribution for the kiln restoration project. The lagoon update levy is to cover costs of the lagoon expansion that took place in 2016. The urban services levy addresses the discrepancy in services between properties inside and outside the annexed area. The “L imp watermain” levy is for sewer and water projects that were completed in 2011 and 2013. The Heritage Arts Centre levy has been in place since 2015, and it’s for the building of the current HAC.
The tax bill also includes waste and recycling charge for sold waste pickup service in town.
