Rockwood council news in brief
The RMs of Rockwood and Rosser have jointly applied to the Public Utilities Board to revise the water and wastewater rates for the Grosse Isle Utility.
If approved, the current quarterly service charge of $39.64 would be reduced to $37.91 in Year 1, $38.68 in Year 2 and $39.47 in Year 3. The water charge (per cubic metre) would increase from the current $3.38 charge to $4.19 in Year 1, $4.85 in Years 2 and 3. The wastewater charge (per cubic metre) would decrease from the current $3.51 charge to $2.70 in Years 1 and 2, followed by $2.67 in Year 3.
The minimum quarterly charge would go from the current rate of $142.99 to $141.26 in Year 1, $151.93 in Year 2 and $152.27 in Year 3. The current $6.75 lagoon tipping fee would increase to $11.40.
The application is available to review at the Rockwood and Rosser municipal offices and at the Public Utility Board’s office. Any questions can be directed to the municipalities, while comments or concerns can be submitted at pubmanitoba.ca until Sept. 20.
In other council news:
• Council defeated a request from residents to waive $1,000 fines they received for burning grass and crop residue during the recent Level 3 fire ban.
Rockwood Reeve Wes Taplin said they opted to not waive the fine because of how severe the fire issue was this year in Manitoba.
“A lot of people weren’t using common sense with how dry it was. What was sticking in our mind was that two people lost their lives from these fires. We were going on the recommendations from our fire chiefs from the three departments that we have, and we were trying to help them out also by giving them every possible chance,” he said.
“If a fire happens by accident, that’s one thing. But someone going out and burning a stubble field because they don’t want to cultivate it or burning a broken round bale because they don’t want to haul it away or use a pitchfork to get rid of it, that’s not a good enough reason to start it on fire.”
• Council granted permission to a Balmoral resident to have three chickens at her home property.
Taplin said any request for chickens in residential areas will need to come to council to be considered on a case-by-case basis.
“In Balmoral, we had a mom approach us because her kids wanted chickens. She wanted to use them as a training tool to learn how to take care of them and be responsible,” he said. “Each application has to be approved by council.”
Council will also consider amending the zoning bylaw to allow for chickens or hens in residential zones after receiving numerous requests from residents.
• Council agreed to amend the zoning bylaw to rezone a Balmoral property to residential multiple family from residential single family and commercial central. The RM is also entering into an agreement with a numbered company to build a five-unit complex in Balmoral.
“I think it’s great because there is such a demand for housing right now. It’s a real need,” Taplin said.
“I’m glad to see Balmoral getting a little bit more development in the community. I think more of that style of housing is needed.”
• Rockwood’s reeve would like to remind residents that the RM’s new community safety officer is now out patrolling.
“He can enforce the Highway Traffic Act,” Taplin said. “Be mindful in school zones because they are going to be watched.”
• Drivers, watch your speed. Rockwood council has authorized lowering the posted speed limit on Winfield Way to 30 km/h from 50 km/h in an effort to improve reaction times and improve road safety. Many residents were concerned about the 50 km/h speed limit within a small development, which has short straight stretches and sharp turns. The director of operations presented a report to council, and Council agreed to reduce the speed.
“We were asked by the residents to slow the traffic down in there,” Taplin said.
• Council gave second and third readings to a bylaw to regulate activities at the Winfield transfer station and at the Teulon-Rockwood waste disposal grounds.
• Public works will add 0.15 metres of gravel to Grace Avenue from John Street to Gunn Street at an estimated cost of $7,000. Council had approved a conditional use to allow an automotive repair business at on Grace Avenue, and one of the conditions was for the RM to upgrade Grace Avenue to allow access for the new owners to operate this business.
• Council authorized Stony Mountain-Rockwood Fire Department Capt. Kristina Knapp and Deputy Capt. Kevin Knapp to enrol in a fire investigation course. The captain and deputy captain will be responsible for the course fees.
• Skylark Industrial Business Park requested permission to vary the minimum site area of a proposed residential lot to 56 acres from the required 80 acres to allow the property to be subdivided.
• Council tabled a request from Glacial Stone to lease and temporarily close Road 7E between Road 80N (PR 323) and Road 81N to quarry through the road.
• Council tabled second and third readings of a bylaw to regulate unnecessary and harmful noise within the municipality. The bylaw addresses noise nuisance from residents’ animals and birds, power and mechanical equipment, motor vehicles, engine retarder brakes, fireworks, construction or excavation work, as well as through shouting and receptions.
• Council gave second and third readings to a bylaw related to storing construction waste material at all construction sites. As part of this bylaw, all construction sites in the municipality — including residential, commercial and industrial sites — must have on-site waste bins to store all construction waste material in order to keep the site clean and safe.
• Council gave second and third readings to a bylaw to prohibit and rectify unmanaged nuisance weeds, grasses and other plants on private properties within the municipality.
• Council gave second and third readings to a bylaw to regulate the operation of all-terrain vehicles in the RM. As part of the bylaw, no one is allowed to operate an ATV or off-road vehicle in public reserves, park areas, public parking lots, playgrounds, pool and recreation areas, sports fields, sidewalks, footpaths and any other area where signs prohibit their use. In addition, ATVs must travel on the north/northeast side of the rail trail from Road 7E (Summit Road) to Highway 7 and on the west/southwest part of the trail from Highway 7 to Provincial Road 321 (Road 72N).
• Council gave second reading to a bylaw to establish water and wastewater rates for the Grosse Isle utility.
• The Sept. 10 Rockwood council meeting has been changed to Sept. 17 at 9 a.m.
