The Manitoba Antique Automobile Museum in Elkhorn is a favourite destination for old car lovers and a premier rural museum in the province. Its location on the Trans-Canada highway puts it in the spotlight for travelers and provided a branding opportunity for the community. Since it opened as a Centennial project in 1967 the collection has grown in size and variety.
Coun. Barb Stambuski reported that the museum board is currently updating policies for managing the collection and digitally indexing the contents. Discussion around these policies has made it clear that some of the items in the collection are unrelated to antique cars and would be more appropriate in another venue.
The museum has been looking for a better home for the Indigenous artifacts display. Coun. Stambuski says that a conversation is underway with the Southern Chiefs Reconciliation Foundation as the Hudson Bay Company building in Winnipeg is being repuposed to give Indigenous pieces a dedicated space.
A display of firearms is also being considered for relocation. Coun. Denis Lachapelle said, “I've talked to different people and if it was properly displayed, it would be a really nice addition.”
Coun Mark Humphries replied. “[The question] is whether you're an auto museum or, or a firearms collection. And that's the issue with the Tourism board and the government not wanting to put signs up at the road, because the collection was so eclectic for want of a better word.”
Coun. Stambuski added, “After all the meetings we've had we want to keep it a car museum.”
The relocations will be discussed at the museum’s annual meeting.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Invoices were approved to Brandt Tractor Ltd. for grader repairs totalling $93,366.24 and to One Capital I Industries Inc. for the purchase of a road groomer at a cost of $14,700.
Coun. Val Caldwell and Coun. Diana MacDonald were approved to attend the Ducks Unlimited Canada open house in Hamiota on Feb. 20.
Quotes received from Associated Engineering for the Kenton and Wallace water system assessments at a cost of $17,310 were accepted.
Council considered the possibility of running a line of treated water into Elkhorn and the daycare location from the rural waterline. An estimate of the cost was done by municipal staff and there was discussion regarding the size of the line required. More details will be provided if the option is pursued.
Testing the ice thickness on bodies of water in the RM is ongoing to ensure that equipment can be safely positioned to remove beaver dams.
Assistant public works superintendent Cole Delaurier was approved to attend the municipal weed control meeting held in Carberry on March 20.
A by-law to set wastewater rates for the Elkhorn utility was given second and third reading and duly passed.
GENERAL BUSINESS
A joint council meeting with Town of Virden will be held on March 18, and all council will attend.
The rural strategic infrastructure funding agreement is a per-capita grant totalling $210,692.32. Council will be assigning the funds to the appropriate projects in the 2024 general operating budget.
Woodworth Fire Department will accept donations for the 56-inch LED light bar and accessory LED lighting for the fire department’s one ton emergency vehicle.
Elkhorn Curling Club bonspiel was recognized as a community event to obtain a MLCC licence that allows sale of liquor to the general public.
The Elkhorn graduating class of 2024 was authorized to use the Elkhorn Memorial Park for their grand march as part of their graduation celebrations on Saturday, June 22.
ARBI CONVENTION
Reeve Clayton Canart drew attention to the annual conference of the Assiniboine River Basin Initiative (ARBI) being held in Brandon March 6 and 7. Ryan Canart, general manager of the Assiniboine West watershed district will participate in a panel discussion on LIDAR, a laser imaging technology used to make high-resolution maps. Eric Volk, executive director of the North Dakota Rural Water Systems Association will present on drought preparedness. Reeve Canart said that Volk would be able to bring information about sharing water resources between neighbouring communities, a topic of interest for Wallace-Woodworth.
COUN. COMMITTEE/DELEGATE REPORTS
Reeve Canart attended the Dennis County Development Partnership meeting in Reston. Canart said there was discussion of doing a housing assessment for the area. He said that all three entities, RM Wallace-Woodworth, RM Pipestone and Town of Virden would have individual assessments as well as one for the whole district. He said, “I think that it's important for each counsel to understand what the needs and wants are within their own borders, and then understand how that can work together with your surrounding neighbors.”
The economic development officers in the region will work to update the business retention and expansion information.
The reeve attended the Southeast Regional Health Corporation meeting in Moosomin where he was reappointed the vice chair and to a committee to negotiate a new lease with the physicians for the facility.
Coun. Stambuski attended the Veterinary board meeting and reported that both bovine doors were either replaced or fixed. A $75,000 government grant was used to purchase an autoclave, a centrifuge and microscope. A water and electrical line need to be trenched into the horse barn and a heated water bowl installed. Stambuski said, “Right now they're basically pailing water over there.”
One veterinarian has just returned from maternity leave and there is a rotation program out of the vet college that provided two pregnancy check rotations in the fall with two semen testing rotations planned for the spring.
Coun. Humphries reported that Kenzie Krutkewich has been appointed to the board of Border Regional Library. He attended a library budget meeting and congratulated head librarian and administrator Laranda Bailey for her detailed work with the accounts that will allow itemizing financial data for each branch individually.
Coun. Lyle Kinnaird attended the airport meeting where the tender from Air Andrew for snow clearing was approved. There was also discussion of fundraising for the airport expansion. Kinnaird also attended the Handi-van meeting where the budget for 2024 was presented as well as the actual results from 2023. He said, “They showed significant increase in our revenue from user fees, and we have not received any provincial grant money, to date.”
Coun. Val Caldwell attended the Western caucus meeting and saw a presentation on mental health awareness. The western Manitoba cabinet officer was there and, “He wants to be part of the team who's certainly willing to meet with RMs, we just need to request it.”
