Annual Flooding Means More Road Woes for RM of Rosedale

First on the docket this month were bylaw amendments. Council passed third reading of a bylaw to create a reserve fund for municipal machinery and moved quickly on to a new amendment regarding fees for hauling aggregate. As the province has increased their rates for mining and transporting aggregate for the first time in 2013, municipal councils have been empowered to pass some of that cost onto their local users.

Planning District Development Officer Jeff Braun brought forward current issues in his department including updates on proposals in various stages. Braun indicated that current residential zoning doesn’t allow for construction of outbuildings before a primary building is present, but when adjacent lots are purchased an exception can be made. He suggested that they add wording to specify the conditions of the exception so it doesn’t set a precedent. Council also reviewed policies regarding how many animal units were permitted on non-livestock operations. There were no public hearings at this meeting.

Landfills were on the agenda again. On the recommendation of an environmental consulting firm, Council agreed to a proposal to add a new landfill cell at the Kelwood waste disposal site. Other waste disposal sites in the municipality may also need expansion in the near future if allowable.

The RM of Rosedale already has a mutual aid agreement with the Town of Neepawa, and have been asked to join an agreement for joint use of 911 services. EMS from the town has already been attending emergencies in the area, but they have been individually billed and not covered under an annual agreement.

Council had previously been in conversation with the RM of North Cypress-Langford about maintenance of mutual roads, and they continue to negotiate budget concerns and timelines as well as agreement on the product needed. At this time, any changes will likely appear on next year’s budget.

Elsewhere in the municipality, Council is selecting a proposal to install new culverts or an alternative solution to handle excess water and avoid additional road washouts. Cementing the crossing rather than continuing to lose gravel annually is a more costly but more permanent option. As well, additional signage may be necessary for public safety. As this is a site for which the RM has applied for Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA), repair costs would be reimbursed.

The DFA requires that sites be restored properly to their pre-flood conditions, so Council discussed what that means for the sites they are addressing around the municipality including locations where temporary fixes are in place. Government regulations stipulate that waterways cannot be altered, which puts some properties in a difficult position.

Also discussed were an application to the new Municipal Service Delivery Program, attendance at the Manitoba Municipal Administrators’ Association meeting, advertising signage with the Beautiful Plains Agricultural Society, an annual donation to ArtsForward, equipment purchases, and a municipal hail damage claim.