Do you have any information about who vandalized the town’s welcome signs?
The Town of Stonewall is working with Crime Stoppers to ask the community for tips regarding vandalism to Town of Stonewall signs on Provincial Road 236 and Provincial Trunk Highway 6 that took place overnight between Jan. 2 and 3.
“There seems to be a fascination with destruction,” said Mayor Sandra Smith.
The town is currently working on a submission to Crime Stoppers. The organization accepts anonymous tips online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com or through its online toll-free tip line at 1-800-222-8477, which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Tips submitted through the website are encrypted, and the phone line doesn’t have call display and is not traceable.
Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards of up to $2,000 if the tip leads to an arrest, charges or the recovery of stolen property or illegal drugs. All costs and reward money come from fundraising and donations since Crime Stoppers doesn’t receive government funding.
Tipsters never have to give personal information, never have to identify themselves, never have to appear in court and will not be required to give a statement to police. Crime Stoppers provides all information to local police authorities. For emergencies, be sure to call 911.
In other council news:
• The Town of Stonewall is submitting a subdivision application to the South Interlake Planning District for the age-in-place campus, which will include seniors housing, a personal care home and shared amenities. Council also approved an offer to purchase a two-acre lot on the western edge of the age-in-place campus site to build a 30-room hotel.
Mayor Sandra Smith expressed excitement for the project.
“This is a positive project for the town. Economically, it’s something that we’ve been working towards and I think this will provide a great benefit not only to our residents. We’re big on recreation here but we know that when we have tournaments, we see people come in and then their dollars leave because there’s not enough accommodations,” she said.
“I think this will spur that development, that activity for our residents and definitely for our businesses when people are staying here. Rather than leaving to go to Winnipeg or Headingley for dinner or because their hotel is there, they’re going to stay here.”
Coun. Peter Bullivant shared similar thoughts.
“Families coming in to see families will have somewhere to stay,” he said. “We already know that we’re a very popular town when it comes to sporting tournaments and things like that, so this is going to complement that as well.”
• Council gave second and third readings to amend a bylaw to authorize the borrowing and spending of funds for a roadwork project to upgrade about 560 metres of Limestone Bay to asphalt from gravel.
• Council gave second and third readings to a bylaw to establish a rate for all residential and institutional properties within town limits for waste and recyclable curbside collection, removal and disposal service for 2026 and 2027.
• The town is hiring Taxervice Inc. to manage tax arrears recovery on the town’s behalf for a three-year period.
• The town has identified 4th Street West as a priority for redevelopment and upgrades this year. Council approved a proposal for engineering services from WSP. Work will include a full redevelopment, including curbs, gutters, lighting and sidewalks.
• Council gave second and third reading to bylaw to borrow up to $9.5 million for a strategic investment to support long-term community planning, infrastructure development, and economic growth in Stonewall. Coun. Walter Badger was absent from the vote.
“Debentures will be issued as work is done on site and costs are incurred with the hope that less than the full amount authorized needs to be borrowed,” said CAO Wally Melnyk.
The funds will go towards capital projects including the servicing of 21 acres for the future personal care home and age-in-place campus, including sewer, water, roads and land drainage. Funds will also go towards shared sewer infrastructure needed by the age-in-place campus and future commercial development, supported by private sector investment in addition to the town’s contribution.
In addition, the town will buy up 31.5 acres of land next to the age-in-place campus for future land-use planning. The borrowed funds will be repaid over a 20-year period through a special mill rate that will be sufficient to cover the principal and interest.
• Scatliff + Miller + Murray will complete a complete a climate adaption plan. The town received funding to complete this work as part of its emergency preparedness plan.
• The town appointed Mike Dola as the municipal noxious weeds inspector.
• The RM of St. Laurent has joined the South Interlake Regional Library, along with Stonewall, Rockwood, Rosser and Teulon. All five municipalities will share the legal costs for drafting a new regional library agreement.
• Council accepted a $33,209.96 quote from Horizon Storage Sheds for a new lifeguard shack at Kinsmen Lake.
• Council accepted a quote from SJPT Services for cleaning services at town facilities.
• Council accepted an amended version of the Commercial Revitalization Incentive Support Program (CRISP). In the amended version, the grant criteria expands eligibility from the commercial general zone to include anywhere within town boundaries for the $5,000 BOOST grant and the $25,000 NEST grant.
• Stonewall residents should know their snow zone, which is used for clearing streets on a rotational basis. Learn more at stonewall.ca/p/snow-clearing-policy.
• The Town of Stonewall is now receiving applications for its annual grant program. Information is available on the town’s website at stonewall.ca.
• The Town of Stonewall will be hosting a Louis Riel Day celebration on Monday, Feb. 16 at the Heritage Arts Centre starting at 11 a.m.
Activities include arts and craft, bannock over an open fire, skating on the pond, and cross-country skies and snowshoes can be borrowed from the Heritage Arts Centre for free. At 2 p.m., there will be live music by Morgan Grace.
The cost is $15 for a family of four or $7 per adult and $5 per student. Kids aged two and under are free. Hamburgers, hot dogs, drinks, chips and candy will be available for purchase at the event.
To learn more, visit the town’s website or call the Heritage Arts Centre at 1-204-467-7980.
• An information session last week shared details about the Comprehensive Health Care Aide Program that will launch in May. The town is working with Assiniboine College, which will be hosting the course in Stonewall. Another one-hour info session is coming up on Feb. 10 at 357 Main St., with two time slots available at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. At this information session, attendees will have the chance to learn about the program details, admission requirements and career opportunities, and they’ll also have the chance to ask questions. Register at assiniboine.net/CHCAopenhouse or email etdo@stonewall.ca for more information.
