Niverville’s council met virtually at 9:00 a.m. on March 2 to discuss a variety of items on the town’s agenda.
New Delegate to Crow Wing Trail Association
Warren Britton, Niverville’s Community Resource and Recreation Centre Manager, has been appointed the town’s delegate on the Crow Wing Trail (CWT) Association, with provisions for the Niverville Recreation staff to attend in his stead when necessary.
Niverville residents Elena Borisova and Tomás Yebra Vega had previously volunteered as representatives on the association since 2018.
“I’d like to say a sincere thanks to the couple who had been serving on this committee for us in the past while,” said Mayor Myron Dyck. “We always enjoy it very much when our residents look to get involved and are willing to take on some of these volunteer positions. So a genuine heartfelt thanks to them for their service.”
Niverville has been an active member of the CWT Association, providing representatives for the CWT board and creating historical signage along the trail’s path through Hespeler Park and past the Niverville Heritage Gardens. The trail’s local maintenance and signage enables fitness and heritage enthusiasts alike to enjoy a meaningful connection to the topography and history of our region of Manitoba.
Town councillors expressed their appreciation for the couple’s participation.
“They were on there for about three years, and I know that they were not backbenchers,” said Councillor Kevin Stott. “They were an integral part of any of the annual meetings I did go to. They were usually doing presentations or running a portion of the meeting.”
Council Reduces Home-Based Business Renewal Fees
Council approved lowering the conditional use renewal fee for home-based businesses in good standing with the town. The previous fee was $300 to renew, but now it will be $100.
The fee is payable after either the two-year or five-year time period issued with the business’s initial conditional use permit, which also costs $300.
Home-based businesses must qualify as being in good standing with the town, and will still have to pay their $100 business license ever year.
Highlands South Bylaw Receives First Reading
Council conducted the first reading of a bylaw rezoning seeking to rezone the southern portion of The Highlands from residential medium density to residential low. This reduces the density of the area for future development that hasn’t been spoken for yet. The zoning would allow for single-family homes.
Councillor Chris Wiebe asked for clarification if this bylaw addressed provisions for additional 650-square-foot homes. Entry-level housing with this smaller floor plan was recently approved by council at a past meeting.
“This is not the area of the 650-square-foot homes,” said CAO Eric King. “This is going from what would be a conditional use single-family home to permitted single-family homes. [The area in question] would be only single-family homes, so there wouldn’t be a provision there to allow for side-by-sides.”
King also explained that this is a measure of town planning to forecast what is likely going to do well in that area. It would not be higher-density housing, like townhouses. The bylaw lays out the direction beyond what is already spoken for by developers and provides zoning for what is being planned to come.
After the first reading, the bylaw’s second reading will be prepared at which point a public hearing will be held.
Mayor Participates with School Project
In February, Mayor Dyck worked with the Niverville High School to participate in the Grade Nine class’s annual studies about government. The mayor acted as a judge, along with MLA Andrew Micklefield of Rossmere, for the students’ final presentations on subjects like Senate reform, Indigenous issues, and the electoral process.
“I want to give a huge shoutout to all the teachers in our schools here in Niverville for this last year and all that they’re doing, essentially ‘pivoting’ to provide this education,” said Dyck. “And a shoutout to the Grade Nines. I was impressed with the presentations that I heard from those that did present. The students demonstrated a very thorough understanding, and when they were talking about governing, the comment that kept coming up was what they could do to help make others better, help others more, and make things better for our residents. I was thoroughly impressed by how they perceived government to be not about power, but empowering others.”
