The Town of Niverville has released its 2017 budget, revealing it to the public at an open house held on Tuesday, March 7 at the Heritage Centre.
Of greatest concern to most residents is always the change to the tax rate. This year, Niverville’s taxes will climb two percent. For the average home, which for the budget’s purpose has an assessed value of $291,000, this means an increase of $33.18 annually.
The education mill rate, which is set by the Hanover School Division and which the town has no control over, will go up 2.41 percent. In 2016, education taxes accounted for 43 percent of the total residential property bill, and 67 percent for commercial properties.
Town Expenditures
Funds earmarked for government services have risen 2.2 percent to $828,518, which will pay for improvements to the town office’s accessibility, the previously announced grant for businesses to purchase security cameras, and enhancements to the town’s accounting system to create an online portal so residents can check their outstanding balances and make direct payments online.
Protective services are going up 12 percent this year, reaching $458,466. This will cover funding for a half-time RCMP police secretary. Other measures include hiring an emergency coordinator and implementing tabletop emergency exercises.
The budget allocation will remain about the same this year for environmental health services. Major projects include the introduction of automated recycling services in May, a service upgrade eagerly anticipated by many residents since it was first announced three months ago. The contract has been awarded to Bristal Hauling at a cost of $242 per tonne.
Niverville’s public health and welfare services budget is increasing from $21,000 to $39,250 this year, which will cover continued improvements to the Heritage and Hespeler cemeteries. An initiative is also underway to create web-based access to cemetery records.
Environmental development services will increase by 26 percent. Part of these funds will be spent to redevelop and pave the walking path which runs east from Station Road in front of Old Drover’s Run. Also, the town’s development plan and zoning bylaw will be reviewed, and a part-time arborist is to be hired to aid in tree-planting and tree maintenance.
In the area of economic development, the town has approved a 23 percent decrease in spending. Initiatives include hosting two open house meetings in 2017, one of which has already taken place. Funds have also been earmarked for enhancements to the town’s marketing materials. Finally, council will be seeking updated photography of the community.
The town’s recreation budget will see a nominal increase of one percent. Niverville will once again host extensive summer camp programming. Further expenditures will go towards the operation of the splash pad (which will operate from June 1 until September 5), and landscaping for its grounds. New showers will be installed in the Niverville Arena dressing rooms, and fencing improvements will be made to the dog park. The Niverville Curling Club will receive new lighting and a more accessible entrance.
Sewer utility expenditures will increase by 20 percent in 2017, funding several projects related to the lagoon. A new pumping system will be installed to improve the movement of sewage between cells, boat access will be added to ease the application of chemicals to manage phosphate levels, and the service road will be upgraded to allow all-weather access. In addition, managing the phosphorous levels in waste water, per provincial regulations, is expected to cost $85,000. A sewer rate study will also be conducted.
Niverville’s largest expenditure is its water utility, pegged at $3,836,416 this year. Funds will be directed toward the continuing process of locating a new well field. If the current proposal is approved in late 2017, a new pipeline will be constructed over the winter, with an estimated completion date of spring 2018.
Another expense is the new water main being built along Crown Valley Road to provide the Highlands subdivision with fire hydrant protection services. In addition, the town will complete several upgrades to the Spruce Drive water treatment plant.
Other community initiatives include baseball diamond upgrades, the installation of bike racks on Main Street, tourist signage, parking lot lights for the arena, and a renewal project at Opa’s Park.
Transportation Services
This year will see a significant increase in expenditures for the area of transportation services, a rise of 16 percent to $1,139,191. Two new staff members are being added, one full-time position and one additional summer student position.
Of significant interest to residents of the Fifth Avenue Estates subdivision, the town will soon begin the process of rebuilding Sixth Avenue. The heavily travelled gravel road, which has long been an issue of concern, will be reconstructed in three phases. The first phase, to be completed this year, will see the road dug out from Highway 311 halfway to Crown Valley and topped with proper granular, geotextile, limestone, and a base layer. The second phase, scheduled for 2018, will see the reconstruction of the second half. A future third phase, should the next council approve it, will involve paving the street. The contract has been awarded to Southwood Ventures of Grunthal at a cost of $253,064.
New sidewalks will be installed this summer along the south side of Main Street, running for one and a half blocks from the east end of the Co-op property to the corner of Second Avenue South. This is a continuation of the sidewalk project begun in 2015 and put on hold last year due to the installation of the new water main. Armada Construction won the $78,000 contract, which came in under budget. Council will discuss at a later date how to use the balance of money that was put aside for this endeavour. The portion of sidewalk fronting Co-op has been exempted for the time being, pending changes that the owners of the property intend to make in the near future.
Additionally, the town will improve drainage along Station Road, Second and Fourth Avenues South, and in Hespeler Park.
The town is also paying for a functional access design study for Main Street, the costs of which will be split with Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation (MIT). The contract has been awarded to CH2M, a Winnipeg engineering firm, for $85,000.
