The Rural Municipality of St. Laurent has approved a zoning change to allow seasonal recreational development while moving to strengthen bylaw enforcement timelines and address ongoing community concerns.
At its April 1 meeting, council gave second and third reading to a zoning bylaw amendment affecting a portion of land in the northeast quarter of 9-16-4W, rezoning it from agricultural restricted to seasonal recreation. The change follows a public hearing and includes plans for a proposed subdivision and new public road.
Chief administrative officer Billie Jean Oliver said the rezoning will allow for the development of four parcels of land and is not expected to significantly impact existing infrastructure.
“It aligns with municipal priorities, as we are looking at ways to help the municipality grow,” she added.
The decision comes as the municipality continues broader planning work, including discussions around a potential lagoon expansion and development of its 2026 budget.
Oliver said the lagoon expansion project is currently in the pre-design phase, which is expected to be completed by the end of April, with the Environmental Act Proposal anticipated by the end of May. Once complete, the proposal will be submitted to the Province of Manitoba for review.
Council also moved to tighten enforcement under its unsightly property bylaw, authorizing action against a non-compliant property on Ducharme Road. The order allows the municipality to carry out cleanup work if necessary and add associated costs to the property’s tax roll.
In a related move, the compliance period for property cleanups has been reduced to 15 days from 45, reflecting a push toward more timely enforcement.
Oliver said council felt the original timeframe was too long, adding that Prairie By-law Enforcement is contracted to handle these complaints based on reports.
Council also discussed the potential for a new speeding bylaw and expanding the role of bylaw enforcement services.
In other business, council declined a request to provide $3,084 in funding to STARS air ambulance service, representing a $2-per-household levy. The motion was defeated.
“Council chose not to support STARS at this time, as it would have had a larger impact on our budget, which had already been discussed and was ready to be presented to the public,” Oliver said. “It may be something that the next incoming council would like to add to the financial plan in the future.”
A public hearing for the 2026 financial plan is scheduled for April 29 at 7 p.m.
Council did approve several smaller expenditures and community supports, including a $1,000 contribution to the Oak Point Music Festival and the purchase of a $469 magnetic sweeper attachment to improve safety at the waste transfer site.
Additional concerns were raised regarding parking and beach use at Meindl Park, particularly related to boundary lines and road allowance congestion.
Efforts to install aquatic invasive species signage remain on hold pending regulatory designation requirements. The RM is obtaining signage through a provincial program and will remind visitors in public beach areas to ensure all watercraft and gear are thoroughly cleaned and inspected before and after entering the lake.
The municipality is also continuing to review fire department operations, with several members preparing for certification exams and updates pending on the status of a new fire truck.
Council is expected to continue discussions on development, infrastructure and enforcement priorities in the coming months.
