***Original published in South Mountain Press, February 22, 2019***
RM of Clanwilliam-Erickson Council February Update
The Council for the Rural Municipality of Clanwilliam-Erickson held their regular monthly meeting last Wednesday, February 13. Numerous agenda items vital to the running of the RM were discussed.
One of the main discussion points dealt with the current state of the Clanwilliam-Erickson Childcare Initiative and the soon to be opened ‘Little Hands Early Learning Center’ daycare. It was reported that opening was going to be delayed a month to April 1st and all but four of the available twenty six spaces have been spoken for. The delay was due to renovations taking longer than predicted. Fundraising for the project continues with plans for a Casino Night, a Paint Night, and ongoing meat sales. Numerous donations of second hand items and monies have been gratefully received.
Council was asked to ‘bridge finance’ a progressive payment to the daycare’s contractors (who have worked in good faith without payment for two months) for the amount of $43,022.01. The Royal Bank loan for the project has been approved but there has been a short delay in disbursing the funds. It was stressed that there will be no cost to the RM and the money is expected to be replaced shortly.
In addition, it was pointed out that originally during the May 15, 2018 Special Meeting, the amount that Council was to serve as security and guarantor for was placed at $100,000. But when the August 24, 2018 Bylaw #55/18 was written up, the amount had increased to $175,000. There is some trepidation on Council regarding the size of the loan that the RM is covering but there is general agreement that the daycare will succeed and will be a much needed asset for the community and its continued prosperity.
Another important item of discussion related to subdivision plans by the South Ditch Lake Recreation Co-Op. President Lawrence Bertram has asked Council to consider some road closure and Crown Land Reserve issues that are preventing subdivision proposals from moving forward. For example, along the shoreline where the Co-Op cottages sit, there is a 99 foot Crown Reserve setback zone. Council has to apply to the Province to have this transferred to the RM.
Council is looking into further details on how to resolve the Co-Op’s issues so that Ditch Lake development can move forward.
As usual, there were many items related to the RM’s handling of waste.
First item to be discussed was the plans for a review of the Solid Waste Agreement with Rolling River First Nation at the end of the month.
There has been no major movement on the Four Winds Waste Management project. Complicating matters is the impending Keeseekoowenin First Nation Council Election. Meanwhile, Council is still entertaining ideas of sending the RM’s waste to the Franklin Evergreen site or entering into a contract with Municipal Waste Management of Souris.
Erickson’s lagoon site was discussed. The present sludge levels will be closely monitored and discharges into Leda Lake will be limited. There have been two emergency discharges into the lake over the last three years and there is a regular fall discharge. At some point sooner than later, the sludge levels will have to be dealt with.
Keeping with Provincial regulations, a RM employee will be sent to the Manitoba Water & Wastewater Association Conference for training. Also, an employee will be sent for mandatory Solid Waste Association of North America certification. By July 1, 2019, all landfills regulated by Manitoba Sustainable Development will be required to have a certified operator.
Carrying on with Erickson’s 2018 Residential Compost Pickup Pilot project, Council has given direction to initiate a Town Wide Compost Collection Program. Results from the pilot indicated that up to 60 tons of compost could be diverted from landfill annually. The environmental and economic benefits of composting locally only makes fiscal sense. Details of the program will be distributed to the public as they become available.
Infrastructure issues in the RM were discussed. If the Federal and Provincial grants come through for the repaving of Erickson’s airport runway, the RM will have to kick in an amount in the range of $100,000. Discussions were had on how the debenture could be raised. Also with infrastructure, snow plowing procedures and road sanding points were discussed.
Finally, all of these good plans by Council will need to be paid for. The Councilors and staff will be putting their noses to the grindstone during a series of special Financial Plan meetings being held at the end of the month. Line by line 2019/2020 budget items such as gravel expenditures, organization grants, staff costs, etc. will be decided upon.
The myriad of issues Council and RM Staff deal with keep them busy and they are never bored. They are tirelessly working for the betterment of their constituency and welcome everyone’s input and concerns.
Blair is a personification of a ‘Jack of All Trades and Master of None’. He has held several careers and has all the T-shirts. Time to add the title Blogger to the list.