Neepawa Council Debrief: Land Deals Support Youth Education

Council focused on upcoming events and property assets this week, with two parcels of land changing hands to support local educational facilities and a review of a soon-to-be heavily used bridge.

Council Reports

Several councillors highlighted upcoming events during this week’s meeting, including the next Farm and Leisure Lottery supporting the Beautiful Plains Medical Clinic, scheduled for April and May of 2026. Council also noted the 2025 Department of Family Medicine Resident Retreat, where a delegation from the medical clinic and the town will present on Neepawa in an effort to recruit new doctors from the 120 attendees.

The Westman Regional Library Board, which oversees branches in Brandon, Carberry, Glenboro, Hartney, and Neepawa, has begun discussing its budget for the upcoming year. While final budget increases won’t be set until December, rates are determined on a per capita basis. With the new census numbers expected in 2026, Neepawa will see a significant increase in its contribution to the regional library, in addition to any percentage increase applied. The regional board is separate from the local Library Advisory Committee, which focuses solely on activities at the Neepawa Public Library, a facility owned by the town.

Other updates included the Pathway to Owning Your Own Home event, originally scheduled for October 4 but postponed to November, and the Assiniboine College Medical Administration certificate program, set to begin in January at the local training facility. Information sessions for the new program will be held on October 1 at 12:30 and 6:30 pm upstairs in the courthouse building.

Developers Take Advantage of Incentives

It is also the time of year when the town reviews supplemental additions and deletions to the tax roll. With substantial new construction over the past year, there is a net addition of over $200,000 to the tax roll. However, this is offset by the town’s development incentive program, which allows qualifying buildings to have 2- or 4-year progressive tax increases rather than immediate full taxation. This program encourages building projects that support the economic health of the community. Buildings benefiting from the program this year include the new This N That Manufacturing facility, the new Harris Pharmacy location, and the recently opened Best Western Hotel.

Town “Sells” Land to Educational Facilities

One of the most notable developments at this week’s council meeting was a pair of land sales, each for $1. The first involved the Neepawa Cooperative Play Centre, also known as the nursery school. Originally developed by the Neepawa Lions Club through an agreement with the town, the property’s management transitioned after the Lions Club disbanded this year. The new agreement transfers ownership and maintenance responsibilities to the Neepawa Cooperative Play Centre.

In a separate situation, the Beautiful Plains School Division requires additional classroom space. Although a new school has been announced by the province, construction has not yet begun and it is not expected to open for several years. The town owned a piece of undevelopable land north of the planned expansion, providing necessary access for emergency vehicles and fire prevention. Rather than granting an easement, the town sold the property to the school division for a dollar, with the division assuming all transfer and development costs.

Stress Testing the Hamilton Street Bridge

With the Hamilton Street extension eventually connecting to the new hospital, the town issued tenders for a complete inspection and superstructure load rating of the Hamilton Street Bridge, which will experience heavier traffic once the facility opens. A previous superficial inspection had assessed water impact from the 2020 flood, but this upcoming review will be a thorough evaluation of the bridge’s capacity to handle additional load.

Other items covered included the Neepawa Connects program through HAND, continued restorative justice initiatives, and the upcoming What’s the Big Idea entrepreneurship event on October 16, which remains open to additional business startups.