Niverville’s town council will soon be settling in for another annual weekend of community planning and goal-setting. It’s at these think-tanks where ideas hatch and plans grow, without the usual interruptions of a counsellor’s daily routine. The 2017 planning session will be held November 18–19 at the Clarion Hotel in Winnipeg.
As council gets ready to look ahead, The Citizen would like to look back at the initiatives that took root in the past year, those that didn’t, and those that are still awaiting the right moment to sprout.
Among those initiatives was council’s consideration to permit food trucks to set up for events at Hespeler Park. With the installation of a canteen in the new splash park, council felt it wise to give opportunity for local sport and social organizations to operate a food service in the canteen to raise funds that would stay in the community. Due to delays in the construction of the splash pad, the question of food truck permits will be delayed until 2017.
Also on the agenda for Hespeler Park was improved lighting along the pathways. Though the single experimental solar light that was installed years ago has worked well, it was an expensive venture and replacement parts are slow in coming. Vandalism is also a big concern.
With this in mind, council spent time researching the merits of LED versus solar lights. With a potential cost coming in at around $100,000, council is currently seeking government grants to offset the cost to residents.
This past summer, council was pleased to see additional funding in place to add three extra Green Team members to the staff. Though they’d applied to both the provincial and federal governments for more funding, only a portion of their request was granted. This resulted in our Green Team growing from nine staffers in 2015 to 12 staffers in 2016.
Recognizing that a limited Green Team staff can only do so much, council proposed an initiative to work alongside local organizations or individuals willing to take on some of the town’s beautification needs. For the second year, council was pleased to work together with the local Communities in Bloom delegation.
“This committee has done various initiatives throughout town and are looking for volunteers,” says Mayor Myron Dyck. “They presented… some suggestions for continuing to improve the beautification of our town. Council will be reviewing their requests at our planning session to see which of the requests will be done for 2017.”
The adopt-a-tree proposal was tabled due to bigger summer priorities but will be looked at again for next year. Council will consider hiring an arborist to tend the community’s trees, but they still want to encourage residents to get involved on a voluntary basis if they have a passion for shrubs and trees.
Water continues to be a high priority to council. Another January initiative was to pursue the idea of a rain barrel program to allow homeowners to retain rainwater, taking pressure off the sewer system during high rain events. This collected rainwater would also help alleviate excessive watering for gardens, reducing demand on the water treatment plant. Counsellor Kevin Stott inquired with the Seine-Rat River Conservation District regarding a rain barrel incentive program which would have provided rain barrels at low cost to residents of Niverville. Unfortunately, the program was cancelled due to lack of interest from communities in their area.
Council’s commitment to encouraging neighbourhood street parties and local events was made tangible this year with a block party trailer outfitted with tables, chairs, a barbecue, games, and coolers, and it is available to any resident free of charge. During its first summer in operation, the trailer was rented 20 times. Furthering its usefulness, the Friends of the Plex made good use of the trailer throughout the summer as a fundraising tool for the upcoming multiplex, hosting lunchtime barbecues around town. Town councillors and staff were regularly on hand to set up and serve at these events.
Council is still in the process of tapping on shoulders to find willing volunteers for a doctor recruitment taskforce.
“The role of this taskforce would be to develop a strategy to attract and retain doctors in Niverville,” says Mayor Dyck. “If there are members in the community who would be interested in being a part of this taskforce, they can contact the town office.”
A high priority on council’s list this year was the pursuit of additional schools for our community.
“This past August our full council met with the full Hanover School Division board including our school trustees,” says Dyck. “We were invited to have supper with them at their office. It was at this time that the school needs of Niverville were brought forward including French Immersion, special trades for a new high school [and] how a new multiplex could be shared in some sort of partnership agreement for their students.
This past year, Hanover put forward their five-year capital plan and Niverville is now top on the list for a new elementary school. A new high school has also been requested. The final decision will be made by the province.
Council also continues to meet with our local MLA, Shannon Martin, about school overcrowding. Martin is aware of the request and has been asked to do his part in regards to securing new schools.
“At the end of the day, it’s about numbers, not politics, that will see a school announced,” says Dyck. “Currently there are other communities such as Sage Creek… that are ahead of Niverville in terms of need.”
