Looking for holiday gift ideas?
The RM of Woodlands is reducing the price of its history book Where We Are to $65 including GST as a Christmas promotion. Printed in 2021, this history book details the municipality’s history from 1980 to 2020.
The RM of Woodlands is offering its 2021 history book Where We Are at a reduced holiday price of $65 including GST until Dec. 24, 2025. Each purchase also includes a free copy of the municipality’s earlier history book Yesteryears, published in 1978
The promotion will end on Dec. 24, 2025.
Purchasers will also receive an edition of the older history book Yesteryears for free. Yesteryears is the municipality’s prior history book from 1978.
The municipal office accepts cash, cheque or e-transfer payments. For more information, call the office at 204-292-5679.
In other council news:
• Council approved the purchase of four portable radios for the fire department for $16,432 plus tax. The expense is more than the budgeted amount, so the additional cost will be covered by accumulated surplus.
• The RM of Woodlands office at 57 Railway Ave. is accepting donations until Dec. 10 for the Interlake Food Bank and the Stonewall and District Cheer Board. Donations can include non-perishable food items, new unwrapped toys, new unwrapped pyjamas and cash donations.
• The RM of Woodlands hosted three Grade 9 students for Take Our Kids to Work Day on Nov. 5. They had the chance to learn about public works operations in the municipality.
• Council gave second and third readings of an updated administrative penalties bylaw. The resolution passed was to include more municipal bylaws under the scope of the existing administrative penalties bylaw. Councillors Darryl Langrell and Bryan Myskiw were absent from the vote.
• Several Woodlands representatives were authorized to attend the Manitoba Disaster Management Conference in Winnipeg from Nov. 28 to 30.
• Council has authorized another $10,000 for contracted drainage work in 2025, on top of the $25,000 budgeted amount. Costs are nearing the budgeted amount, but a current ditch project is not yet complete. Looking ahead, the RM expects to be under budget in other drainage areas.
• Council approved a request to vary a minimum side yard setback for a shed and quonset on a property.
• Council conditionally approved two requests for a used mobile home to be used as a second dwelling. One request was for a property on Road 75N and the other was for Road 15W.
• Council approved a request to vary the minimum site area for a livestock operation to 69.5 acres from the required 80 acres.
• Council conditionally approved a request to subdivide a 97.3-acre property to create a 4.08-acre yard site and 33.19-acre parcel. The residual would be 59.3 acres.
• Arrowquip Holdings requested a reduction in security to $80,000 from $500,000. Arrowquip Holdings has developed a rural residential neighbourhood in part of NE 28-14-2W. This development consists of 11 lots varying in size from two acres to 27 acres, plus two new municipal roads (Northwood Drive and Oakwood Cove). The initial subdivision took place in 2022.
“A security deposit refers to funds held by the municipality during the course of a development to ensure all work is completed in accordance with the development agreement,” said CAO Kaitlyn Griffith. “As work is completed, the developer can request a reduction in security, meaning some of those funds are returned to them.”
• Council approved a request to put a 32-square-foot double-sided for-sale sign on a municipal right-of-way between Railway Avenue and Provincial Trunk Highway 6 near the intersection of Parker Street. The applicant also needs to consult with Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure for any required approvals. The sign must be removed by Oct. 31, 2026, or within 30 days of the sale, whichever is sooner.
• Council defeated a resolution to allow public works to gravel a portion of Road 73N between roads 6W and 8W so that Rock Lake Colony can move their cattle from adjacent properties this fall and spring. Currently, that stretch of the road is not an all-weather road and isn’t suitable for travel unless gravelled. The RM’s road maintenance policy is to only add gravel to seasonal roads on request, subject to budget constraints and not more than once every four to five years. Requests must be received in early spring, and all-weather roads are the first priority. This request may be reconsidered following completion of the regular road gravelling program.
• Council sent a letter to Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure to request the reconstruction and abandonment of Railway Avenue. This street is currently under the jurisdiction of Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure, and council is interested in taking it over as a municipal roadway instead, providing it is repaired.
“The municipality sees benefit in having control of the use and maintenance of this street and has requested the province ‘abandon’ it to municipal jurisdiction,” Griffith said. “However, the municipality also notes that the street requires some repairs and has requested that it be resurfaced prior to abandonment.”
• Council approved a request for an additional approach to properties on Road 9W and Road 15W.
• Council approved a $1,235 quote from Rising Home Renovations to replace the deteriorating concrete on the office steps with treated wood.
• Council approved a $36,750 quote from Muys Construction to install a water fill station at Erinview Hall. Muys Construction was awarded the contract to rebuild the hall after the previous structure was destroyed by a fire in 2023. However, the initial contract didn’t include the development of a water fill station on site, which was part of the fire loss and is included in the insurance claim.
• The Nov. 25 council meeting is cancelled and won’t be rescheduled. A special meeting of council took place on Nov. 18.
