At the Town of Virden Council meeting, June 16, plans to re-open facilities were part of the evening’s business.
After receiving a request to hold a day care graduation outdoors, Council decided that the Jubilee Stage in Victoria Park will be made available for functions once again. An agreement must be signed by each user stating that all guidelines and public health orders set out by Manitoba Health with respect to social distancing, sanitation and the number of people in attendance will be followed. Deputy Mayor Tina Williams stressed that the Town will not be held liable should any fines be levied for non-compliance.
Council authorized the re-opening of the Pioneer Home Museum to the public effective June 17, following guidelines and procedures set out by Manitoba Health and the Board of Directors. A series of virtual tours are also being produced by summer staff throughout the season, and may be viewed on the museum’s website.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER NEEDED
Frank Van Den Hoek and Maxine Litton, the Town’s current Animal Control Officers, have tendered their resignation, which will take effect in September. The position will be advertised soon.
RECYCLING - STATUS QUO
Virden residents will be able to continue rolling out their blue recycling carts on their designated pickup day every two weeks…for the next decade. Council approved the extension of the contract with Loraas Disposal for the collection and processing of recyclable materials for a ten-year period, ending in 2030. Under the terms of the deal, the rates will remain the same for the first three years, but then increase by 1.5% in each year thereafter. The present fuel surcharge will be removed when the contract is signed. There will be no changes to the current schedule. Virden’s recyclables are trucked to the company’s depot in Kennedy, Saskatchewan for sorting and processing.
YARD NOMINATED
At the suggestion of Mayor Murray Wright, who lives nearby, Council agreed to nominate the home of Rick and Brenda Smith for consideration in this year’s Manitoba Good Roads Association Urban Yard Competition for communities under 7,500 people.
FUNDS FOR MURAL
A request from Arts Mosaic for a $1,500.00 contribution towards the creation of a mural in recognition of Manitoba’s 150th Anniversary was granted. The money, which will match a provincial grant awarded for the project, will come out of the Boost Committee budget. “There was always to be a design committee to approve signage, murals and that sort of thing for downtown, but because the conceptual design work that we’ve hired the landscape architect for has been delayed, that never came to fruition,” said Chief Administrative Officer Rhonda Stewart. As a result, the Boost Committee will be tasked with overseeing and approving the conceptual design, which has yet to be finalized. The mural will be placed on the side wall of the Gopher Creek Coffee Company building on Nelson Street.
SUMMER MEETING DATES
During the summer months, Council will be meeting on July 7 and 28 and August 18.
