RCMP PRESENTATION
Sgt. Scott Fefchak presented a brief RCMP Report to the Town of Virden Council at this week’s virtual meeting. “Our calls for service compared to (March of) the previous year were down,” he said. “The usual run-of-the-mill stuff…nothing major.”
Fefchak noted that staffing levels remain consistent. An additional Corporal has been seconded to work within the Westman Detachment on a temporary basis and a member of the Blue Hills Detachment is presently on staff, carrying out light duties until he is fully able to return to work. Cpl. Mike Eady has been promoted to Sergeant and will relocate to Alberta upon sale of his home. “We’re hanging in there right now with respect to the numbers,” Fefchak said.
Deputy Mayor Tina Williams brought forward concerns she received from a resident of Evergreen Place regarding the speed of traffic along Hargrave Street and Routledge Street in the vicinity of the housing complex. “It’s like a speed zone over there,” the resident wrote. “It’s a lot…very fast… and at all times of the day.”
Sgt. Fefchak will relay the information to Traffic Services.
WTP FINANCING BY-LAW
Chief Administrative Officer Rhonda Stewart advised Council that the Municipal Board had approved the Town’s amended By-Law for the borrowing of funds for completion of Phase Two of the Waste Water Treatment Plant (building extension and the treatment equipment). The By-Law will now be sent to RBC Royal Bank, which is financing the project.
LAND FOR WELL PROJECT
A resolution was passed authorizing the purchase of a portion of SE ¼ of 5-11-25 in the Assiniboine Valley. The mechanization building for the Town’s new water wells will be placed on the property.
FARM BUILDING INSPECTIONS
The Town received correspondence from the Association of Manitoba Municipalities advising that municipal Building Inspectors will now be responsible for the inspection of farm buildings exceeding 6,000 square feet in size. This was previously carried out by the provincial Office of the Fire Commissioner.
TAX SALE RESERVES
Council authorized the placement of reserve bids on all properties in the tax sale on April 7. The reserve bid consists of the amount of the taxes in arrears from 2020 as well as the costs incurred by the municipality.
ASSESSMENT CYCLE DELAYED
Council was advised that due to COVID-19, the next property assessment will not occur until 2023. The regular two-year cycle will resume after that.
SPRAY PARK COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT
Coun. Whitney Wright was appointed as the Town’s representative on the Virden Spray Park Committee.
TOWN SUPPORTS SCALLION CREEK COMMITTEE
A resolution was passed sponsoring the Scallion Creek Committee’s application for funding from the Virden Area Foundation. The group ‘s upcoming plans include the restocking and operation of the trout pond, the purchase of picnic tables for the pond area as well as Centennial Park, and the addition of a walking bridge across Scallion Creek from Galt Street to the Kenderdine Subdivision.
MAYOR CONGRATULATES KALYNUKS
At the close of the meeting, Mayor Murray Wright expressed Council’s congratulations to Randy and Leanne Kalynuk, whose son Wyatt is now playing hockey with the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL. “I’d like to congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Kalynuk on their son’s great ambition to get into NHL hockey, namely Wyatt,” Wright said. “I think we should all be very proud in the Town of Virden that we have someone who has made the NHL.”