Neepawa Town Council: Resource Centre property sold
- Details
- Published on Thursday, March 2, 2017
By Eoin Devereux
The Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press
Neepawa town council has approved the sale of 290 Davidson Street to Budz ’n Bloom. The daycare was one of three groups who submitted a tender to buy the property, the others being Brews Brothers and CJ Radio.
The winning bid from Budz ’n Bloom was one of two options they presented to council. The first option was for $5,000 for the land and the building as is. The second option was for $50,000, but for a cleared lot. Council accepted option two and will move forward in the near future in demolishing the existing structure.
Budz ’n Bloom, who currently operate out of a 4,400 square foot location on Hamilton Street in Neepawa, have been working for over two years on a multi-phased expansion plan. The day care has been looking at opening up a new facility, but also keeping their existing building operational.
The Town, which had owned the Resource Centre since the mid ‘90s, announced back in 2015 that it was no longer financially feasible to maintain its stake, due to increasing costs to bring the structure up to code.
Heritage request: The Beautiful Plains Museum has been nominated as a municipal heritage site. If approved, that designation would protect the building from any significant alteration or demolition. A public hearing on the request would need to be held before the nomination could be approved.
Neepawa and Area Heritage Week: As part of the Canada 150 celebrations, council has established July 14-23 as Neepawa and Area Heritage Week. This 10 day period will be an opportunity for citizens to participate in and celebrate each other’s culture and heritage. Additional details on what events may be a part of the festivities will be made public over the next few months.
General operating surplus: The Town of Neepawa has accrued a $650,000 surplus in its general operating budget. This large sum was not accumulated through overtaxation, but rather though several financial decisions and unexpected revenue developments made over the course of the year, including:
• $150,000 for a Canada Day project (Money will be shifted to 2017 budget)
• $132,000 set aside in 2016 for the lagoon that did not need to be spent.
• $123,000 rebate to the Town from Manitoba Hydro
• $88,000 from the tax sale for 311-5th Street and 10 James Bay.
• $61,000 set aside in the capital budget that did not need to be spent
• $50,000 surplus from efficiencies.
• $39,000 received from the RM of North Cypress/Langford
• $7,000 received from misc grants
These results are pre year-end and unaudited.
Water/Sewer rate increase: Town council has approved second and third reading on a water and sewer rate increase for later this year. Earlier this month, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) approved a revised water and wastewater rate for the town, effective July 1, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Before the increase is enacted, the town will embark upon informing the public on the upcoming change and how it impacts them. Changes to the rates will likely not be noticed by ratepayers until they receive their September water bill. This water rate decision has been a long time coming, as the town last received rate change approval from the PUB back in 2008. That approval was for a three year phased-in approach which concluded in 2011.
Mayor’s report: Mayor Adrian de Groot started his report by referencing the 2016 population census results and council’s efforts on local development. De Groot noted that Neepawa is in a situation that is prime for new development and that is hasn’t gone unnoticed by Council. He stated that conversations are ongoing with various individuals in relation to a strategy moving forward.
Mayor de Groot then shifted the conversation to the upcoming budget and access to information to ratepayers. He said that administration are working on a number of tools that will make it easier to see how property taxes are distributed. These will be accessed through the Town of Neepawa web site much the same as the “Residential Tax Calculator” found under the path of Resident/Property tax tabs.
