One of The Citizen's regular news features is a follow-up article after every Niverville council meeting, reporting on the details of the various measures that were passed and discussed. Today, in celebration of Niverville's fiftieth anniversary since incorporation as an independent municipal government, we offer you this historical look back at selected minutes from Niverville's very first year.
On January 10, 1969, Elvin Enns of Niverville was appointed as the village’s first secretary-treasurer, at a salary of $4,000 a year.
Other appointments included John W. Enns as fire chief, Peter Bueckert as building inspector, and Bill Wachtendorf as Chief Constable. The new constable was to be in possession of handcuffs and use his own vehicle for patrolling. A minimum of a $3 could be charged for traffic violations. He was also given authority to curb the use of “power toboggans” in the village, which had been causing concern to residents. Wachtendorf saw a remuneration for his services of $100 per month.
January 13. Mayor Kuzenko shared a request from Labatt’s Brewing for the installation of a sign at the Niverville Centennial Arena. It was hoped that the company would financially support the finishing work on the building.
February 4. Council created a Health and Welfare committee to administer to residents in need. A request was also submitted to the Department of Highways for a traffic light on Main Street for the safe crossing of schoolchildren.
On this date, a review of the village’s first list of expenditures showed total disbursements in the amount of $790.
February 17. Council held a special meeting with a consulting engineer, B.J. Fleishman, to begin discussions on water and sewer utilities.
Council made a proposal to pay rent of $30 per month to the Niverville Credit Union, at 86 Main Street, for meeting space, with the option of purchasing the building at a cost of $4,500 at an interest rate of 7.75 percent.
March 4. Council adopted a wage scale of $1.70 per hour for casual adult labour and $2 per hour for foreman labour.
March 11. Council created an agreement with Manitoba Hydro to provide street and decorative lighting around the community for a maximum of $4,000 per year for five years. Also, resident John Krause was appointed to serve as a weekly garbage collector with a salary of $300 per month.
March 21. Council hosted delegations from the RM of Hanover and RM of Ritchot to discuss a proposal made by the Niverville Community Club regarding the creation of a tax levy to aid in the completion of the arena. It was recommended that such a levy be collected from all of the communities using the rink, including Niverville, St. Adolphe, Ste. Agathe, and Île-des-Chênes.
April 15. Council passed a motion to request that the RM of Hanover create with them a joint Hanover-Niverville Recreation Commission.
May 21. John H. Dyck was appointed Public Works foreman with a salary of $2.25 per hour. His duties were to include that of the weed inspector, fire hall caretaker, machine operator, and decorative lights operator.
July 15. Council moved to present Bill Wachtendorf with a plaque to express the village’s gratitude for his policing services in the community over the past 20 years. Mr. Wachtendorf’s services were no longer needed after council agreed to hire Imperial Patrol of Winnipeg.
August 5. Council decided to enforce a penalty of $50 a day aginst residents who kept horses in residential areas, which went against Niverville’s new zoning bylaws.
September 2. Council entered into an agreement with Price Balchen and Associates for the construction of a new sewer system to be installed in the summer of 1970.
September 23. A delegation of local businessmen attended a council meeting to protest the newly painted double lines on Main Street, requesting that council replace them with single broken lines in front of business establishments. The request was overruled.
October 7. A delegation from the Department of Highways advised council that a study of the flow of traffic on Main Street indicated that the amount of traffic at the intersection of the Elementary School was insufficient to warrant a traffic signal or pedestrian corridor. The representative recommended that council consider instituting parallel parking instead of the current diagonal parking in this area for greater safety for schoolchildren.
On this date, council authorized the purchase of six chairs, a coat hanger, and a carpet for the town office building. Council also authorized the installation of a telephone in the home of the Protection Constable, at the village’s cost, as well as an Olivetti Underwood typewriter for council’s secretary-treasurer.
October 14. Council approved the payment of $198 in property taxes for 1969 on the building that they leased from the Niverville Credit Union. Council also agreed to hire Philip Gamache and his shepherd dog for extra policing services on Halloween night.
November 18. Council decided to make a formal request of the Department of Highways for the construction of a center median on Main Street.
January 6, 1970. Council planned to host a reception in the local Pines Restaurant in appreciation of staff and citizens who had been involved in the execution of the village’s official first year of affairs.
