PRAIRIE SCRIBBLER – SOUTH MOUNTAIN PRESS, VOLUME 11, NUMBER 45

***Original published in South Mountain Press, February 22, 2019***

RM of Clanwilliam-Erickson Council February Update

The Council for the Rural Municipality of Clanwilliam-Erickson held their regular monthly meeting last Wednesday, February 13. Numerous agenda items vital to the running of the RM were discussed.

One of the main discussion points dealt with the current state of the Clanwilliam-Erickson Childcare Initiative and the soon to be opened ‘Little Hands Early Learning Center’ daycare. It was reported that opening was going to be delayed a month to April 1^st and all but four of the available twenty six spaces have been spoken for. The delay was due to renovations taking longer than predicted. Fundraising for the project continues with plans for a Casino Night, a Paint Night, and ongoing meat sales. Numerous donations of second hand items and monies have been gratefully received.

Council was asked to ‘bridge finance’ a progressive payment to the daycare’s contractors (who have worked in good faith without payment for two months) for the amount of $43,022.01. The Royal Bank loan for the project has been approved but there has been a short delay in disbursing the funds. It was stressed that there will be no cost to the RM and the money is expected to be replaced shortly.

In addition, it was pointed out that originally during the May 15, 2018 Special Meeting, the amount that Council was to serve as security and guarantor for was placed at $100,000. But when the August 24, 2018 Bylaw #55/18 was written up, the amount had increased to $175,000. There is some trepidation on Council regarding the size of the loan that the RM is covering but there is general agreement that the daycare will succeed and will be a much needed asset for the community and its continued prosperity.

Another important item of discussion related to subdivision plans by the South Ditch Lake Recreation Co-Op. President Lawrence Bertram has asked Council to consider some road closure and Crown Land Reserve issues that are preventing subdivision proposals from moving forward. For example, along the shoreline where the Co-Op cottages sit, there is a 99 foot Crown Reserve setback zone. Council has to apply to the Province to have this transferred to the RM.

Council is looking into further details on how to resolve the Co-Op’s issues so that Ditch Lake development can move forward.

As usual, there were many items related to the RM’s handling of waste.

First item to be discussed was the plans for a review of the Solid Waste Agreement with Rolling River First Nation at the end of the month.

There has been no major movement on the Four Winds Waste Management project. Complicating matters is the impending Keeseekoowenin First Nation Council Election. Meanwhile, Council is still entertaining ideas of sending the RM’s waste to the Franklin Evergreen site or entering into a contract with Municipal Waste Management of Souris.

Erickson’s lagoon site was discussed. The present sludge levels will be closely monitored and discharges into Leda Lake will be limited. There have been two emergency discharges into the lake over the last three years and there is a regular fall discharge. At some point sooner than later, the sludge levels will have to be dealt with.

Keeping with Provincial regulations, a RM employee will be sent to the Manitoba Water & Wastewater Association Conference for training. Also, an employee will be sent for mandatory Solid Waste Association of North America certification. By July 1, 2019, all landfills regulated by Manitoba Sustainable Development will be required to have a certified operator.

Carrying on with Erickson’s 2018 Residential Compost Pickup Pilot project, Council has given direction to initiate a Town Wide Compost Collection Program. Results from the pilot indicated that up to 60 tons of compost could be diverted from landfill annually. The environmental and economic benefits of composting locally only makes fiscal sense. Details of the program will be distributed to the public as they become available.

Infrastructure issues in the RM were discussed. If the Federal and Provincial grants come through for the repaving of Erickson’s airport runway, the RM will have to kick in an amount in the range of $100,000. Discussions were had on how the debenture could be raised. Also with infrastructure, snow plowing procedures and road sanding points were discussed.

Finally, all of these good plans by Council will need to be paid for. The Councilors and staff will be putting their noses to the grindstone during a series of special Financial Plan meetings being held at the end of the month. Line by line 2019/2020 budget items such as gravel expenditures, organization grants, staff costs, etc. will be decided upon.

The myriad of issues Council and RM Staff deal with keep them busy and they are never bored. They are tirelessly working for the betterment of their constituency and welcome everyone’s input and concerns.

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March 4, 2019March 4, 2019

PRAIRIE SCRIBBLER – SOUTH MOUNTAIN PRESS, VOLUME 11, NUMBER 40 – Part 2

***Original published in South Mountain Press, January 18, 2019***

Reeve’s Resolutions for 2019

As the calendar rolls over from the old year, the budgets of Rural Municipalities conclude and Councils begin detailed discussions on 2019 spending priorities. The Reeves of Clanwilliam-Erickson, Victor Baraniuk, and Harrison Park, Jason Potter, graciously spent time with me to go over their plans, priorities, and visions for their respective RMs for the coming year.

Q. Budget time is right around the corner and specific dollar amounts will have to be decided upon. Could you list and elaborate on your Council’s main priorities for 2019?

Reeve Baraniuk – The single, most pressing issue facing the Clanwilliam-Erickson Council this year will be roads and infrastructure. In the rural areas, the roads are in poor shape and they are in sore need of gravelling, grading, and mowing. There will be a marked increase in the road budget compared to previous years. Then in Erickson, there are street repairs that are calling for our attention. Also, obviously due to the season, we need to keep on top of snow clearing.

Reeve Potter – The Council of Harrison Park will be spending most of our energies this year on connecting as many of our citizens as possible to the water and sewer systems, particularly in Onanole and Sandy Lake. Although about one third of the RM’s budget will be allocated to road maintenance, in general our roads are in good shape. In fact, the Manitoba Good Roads Association recently awarded Harrison Park with their ‘Class 1 Best Maintained System of Rural Municipality Roads Capital One Shield’.

Q. What projects, new or on-going, are going to hold the attention of Council this year?

Reeve Baraniuk – One of the main projects the Council will have to decide upon will be the final disposition of the Four Winds Environmental Management partnership. Council is still in the process of exploring options which will determine if we remain in the partnership or go with another waste solution whether alone or with a partner. For example, we have been looking at proposals from Evergreen Environmental Technologies near Franklin and Municipal Waste Management Environmental (MWM) of Souris. Evergreen would be a relatively short extra distance to transfer our waste compared to the original Four Winds site over on the PTH 250. MWM has attractive tipping fees. Ultimately, Council will have to decide what will be the best option for our ratepayers over the long term. More meetings are planned for February and we will keep the public apprised of our progress.

In addition to the RM’s waste issues, we want to keep working on Erickson’s skating and curling rinks, the campgrounds, RV Park, and our area’s appeal to tourists. Longer term we need reasons and employment for young people to settle in the area in order to ensure the RM’s continued vitality.

One of the significant parts of Erickson’s appeal is derived from our airport. The RM, in cooperation with MLA Greg Nesbitt, is in the process of applying for a $1.2 million grant in order to repave the 3000 foot runway.

Reeve Potter – As you know, the ratepayers of Harrison Park delivered an emphatic ‘No’ to the original proposed siting of the Four Winds Waste Management facility in our RM. We are still committed to the project and exploring if another suitable site can be found. Meanwhile, we will keep our options open and see if there are other solutions that make better fiscal sense for our constituents.

Meanwhile, Council will be working on recycling and composting initiatives, beautification projects, and youth-friendly facilities such as parks and ball diamonds.

Although there were plans to move the RM offices over to a new facility, Council is going to shelve that for the time being. We did not feel that it would be a wise use of taxpayer funds to pay for costly renovations at this point. Therefore, the old Onanole Westoba Credit Union building slated for the project has now been put up for tender.

Longer term, we want to hire a Community Development professional to assist with the RM’s development needs and planning. Our RM is fortunate to be in good shape financially and I am loath to propose any tax hikes for future projects. It would be preferable to bring in more businesses and people in order to expand the tax base. But our community is particularly concerned that development blends in with the natural environment. We want to avoid another debacle such as the recent ‘Meadow’ proposal which received so much public backlash.

Q. Although there are the usual challenges such as road or infrastructure maintenance, can you foresee any speedbumps ahead for your Council for 2019?

Reeve Baraniuk – At last November’s Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) Convention, Premier Pallister essentially told the delegates that the Province has no more money for RM infrastructure spending. For example, our RM used to receive about $60,000/year in provincial infrastructure grants. This year’s figure will only be $1,300. Also, I am very concerned that the Province seems to be ignoring the AMM’s Mill Rates and Farmland Assessment Resolutions. The provincial assessment process as it stands puts undo and unfair strain on RMs and their ratepayers who have to deal with high fluctuations of taxes. Plus farmers are getting hit hard as their land values have dramatically increased without a commensurate increase in their farm receipts.

Also, one unique issue that will be causing the Council headaches will be the local beaver population plugging up culverts. It is very expensive to clear a clogged culvert and the area has lost their traditional trappers who used to keep the beaver population in check.

Reeve Potter – Word from the Province is do not expect monetary assistance from us. The RM is fine for now from a budget standpoint but we would like to keep working on creating a positive business, tourism, and living environment that will attract and keep a diverse community.

One challenge for all the new Council members will be the budgetary process itself. Four special budget meetings will be taking place to hammer out the fine details but we will have to rely on staff expertise for guidance.

Q. Do you have a 2019 message to your Municipalities?

Reeve Baraniuk – Amalgamation of the Clanwilliam and Erickson Municipalities was tough. It is difficult to balance the disparate needs of our rural and urban communities. I will be working diligently to ensure that I create a fair balance between all the people that I represent.

Reeve Potter – The Council and I are committed to being open and transparent. We welcome and are actively seeking input from our ratepayers. Also, as a professional body, we will not be playing fast and loose with the tax dollars. In the past, there were too many verbal or ‘handshake’ Municipal agreements. Future RM dealings will all be in writing in order to avoid misunderstandings or confusion.

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January 18, 2019January 18, 2019

PRAIRIE SCRIBBLER – SOUTH MOUNTAIN PRESS, VOLUME 11, NUMBER 34

The new Council for the RM of Clanwilliam-Erickson

***Original published in South Mountain Press, November 23, 2018***

New Clanwilliam-Erickson Council Meets

The new Council for the Rural Municipality of Clanwilliam-Erickson Council met for the first time on November 14 and got right down to business. The Council has a good mixture of seasoned municipal council veterans with some new blood mixed in.

Just like other RM Councils all over the province have been doing for the past couple of weeks, several boilerplate but necessary items needed to be dealt with during this initial meeting. Council was quickly sworn in, minutes and financial statements were accepted, and numerous committees were staffed by Council members. The wheels of governance depend on these necessary details.

Delegations from the Services to Seniors Board and the Ditch Lake Co-op Board gave presentations on the history of their organizations and how the RM has interacted and/or supported them in the past. To the outside observer, it may seem boring but it can be vital for Councilors to hear about what is happening in their constituency. If you are a senior regularly using the Erickson Drop-In center or a recreational fisherman using the Ditch Lake boat launch, it would be reassuring to know that people are forward thinking about these services.

Head of Council Victor Baraniuk brought up a few pressing issues which will need more serious discussion and solutions. Some items needing resolution include working on the general state of PTH 262 sooner than later, dealing with the disposition of the Four Winds Waste Management project, and grappling with the fact that the Province is not providing infrastructure grants at the levels of previous years.

As for the Four Winds project, the Council reaffirmed their commitment to continue cooperation and partnership with the RM of Harrison Park and the First Nations of Rolling River and Keeseekoowenin. There was a general consensus that waste and recycling in the RM needed to be dealt with and that it was beneficial to pair up with other local governing bodies. Mayor Baraniuk reiterated the statement of Reeve Jason Potter that the partners needed to work on the best possible solution for the residents of their constituencies. Further discussion amongst the various stakeholders will take place in Erickson at the Crossroads center on December 5.

One last major item that the new Council worked on was who would be attending the Annual Convention of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) taking place in Winnipeg from November 26-28. The newer Council members will be able to take advantage of a Pre-Conference for Newly Elected Municipal Officials. Delegates will be treated to keynote speaker sessions that will include Premier Brian Pallister, CFL legend Mike “Pinball” Clemons, Fort McMurray’s Fire Chief (Ret’d) Darby Allen, and the ‘Man in Motion’ Rick Hansen. RM representatives will also be working on numerous AMM resolutions related to various Provincial and Federal issues.

As Mayor Baraniuk pointed out, certain AMM resolutions such as ‘Increase Operating Grants for Small Rural Airports’ and ‘Farm Property Assessment’ are of vital concern to the RM. There are plenty of farmers in the Clanwilliam area whose property values keep increasing while their farming receipts remain at static levels. Erickson receives good benefit from having their small airport but infrastructure issues cannot be put off indefinitely. Attending these larger provincial events such as the AMM Convention allows local Council to get their concerns and voices heard on issues where otherwise they might be ignored. It also allows them to find allies with similar concerns and possibly change provincial or federal policy with their weight of numbers.

For those people interested in attending to observe local government in action, Clanwilliam-Erickson Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. Their next regular meeting at the Erickson Municipal Office will be on November 28 at 9:00 am. News regarding the RM, meeting dates, upcoming events, Council meeting minutes or documents, and contact information for your local representatives can be found at http://www.ericksonmb.ca/

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October 26, 2018

PRAIRIE SCRIBBLER – SOUTH MOUNTAIN PRESS, VOLUME 11, NUMBER 22

Stormy weather over proposed Four Winds Waste Management site off of PTH 270

***Original published in South Mountain Press, August 31, 2018***

Heated Discussions over Proposed Waste Management Site

Last week from 22 to 24 Aug, the Four Winds Environmental Management Board held a second round of public information sessions in the communities of Erickson, Newdale, Onanole, and Sandy Lake.

In order to better answer the public’s specific concerns over the waste management site proposal, the board brought in technical experts from Neegan Burnside Ltd., the engineering firm that conducted the feasibility report for the project. The report’s author and Lead Technical Specialist (Landfills), Kent Hunter and Project Manager, Kris Sewgoolam were on hand to answer specific technical questions related to their company’s report and the subsequent proposed waste and recycling site. Mr. Hunter is a Professional Engineer licensed in Manitoba and Ontario with 30 years of landfill project experience.

It seems that for the general population of the area, there is not that much concern over the issue. One of the main stipulations of the process to begin with was that levels of waste service would remain the same or improve. The existing six landfill sites already in use will be converted to transfer stations, so instead of a burn pile and dump pit, area residents will place their trash into portable bins instead.

But there is a significant group of about 50 concerned citizens with specific concerns over the project and in no uncertain terms, they are demanding to be heard.

The one item everyone agrees on is that something needs to be done with the area’s waste. But the main sticking point is the site that has been picked for purchase, located at NW 4-17-20 on PTH 250, is unsuitable due to the proximity of the Little Saskatchewan River valley just over a mile away.

Local residents contend that surface and sub-surface water in that area will carry contaminants into the Little Saskatchewan subsequently affecting downstream communities such as Minnedosa and Rapid City. When asked to address this contentious issue, the Neegan Burnside Ltd. representatives said they were confident that landfill development technology is sufficient to prevent this type of scenario.

As Kent Hunter explained, any issues with sub-surface water being contaminated by waste will be dealt with by a properly constructed leech aid-evaporation lagoon. The waste storage pit will be built with a High-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner, covered with select waste that will prevent puncturing, then it will be continuously tested and monitored throughout the landfill’s lifecycle to ensure that it is not leaking. The HDPE material is at a minimum designed to last for the 30 year projected lifespan of the landfill pit.

As for sudden influxes of surface water from spring run-off or heavy rain storms, Mr. Hunter contends that the design of the facility will keep the clean water separated from any polluted water. Although not required by current regulations, the site will be over-engineered to handle a one in one hundred year flood event.

Another hot topic brought forward was the cost and acquisition process of the site chosen. Lloyd Ewashko, Reeve of Harrison Park RM, declared that he is standing by the decisions that have been made leading up to the purchasing of the $500,000 ¼ section of land. Due to provincial regulations, the process of developing a landfill facility requires that the physical site already needs to be in possession of a RM before the process can move forward.

Another major concern raised dealt with comparisons between the proposed Four Winds site with the Evergreen Environmental Technologies Waste Facility located between Neepawa and Minnedosa. The fear is that although the Four Winds site will be initially run as a Class 2 operation accepting a maximum of 5000 metric tons/year that it will be converted later to a Class 1 operation. Although this scenario was discussed in the Feasibility Study as an option, the engineers did not recommend it and the Four Winds Board members say that sort of proposal is not under consideration.

The Board is confident that their solution for the area’s projected waste requirements of 130,000 metric tons over the next 30 years will be managed with their current proposal and subsequent facility.

Moving forward, the next step for the Four Winds Board, as laid out in an August 7^th mail-out to area residents, is the completion of a project business plan. Then by the end of October, after a tendering process, they expect to accept a site design. With completion of an engineering design, environmental licensing can be sought through the Manitoba Sustainable Development department. Monies supplied by Indigenous Services Canada will pay for capital construction costs and operations at the site should begin in the fall of 2019.

A key factor to ensuring the success of the new waste site will be the recycling component. General attitudes and habits regarding garbage and recycling are going to go through an upheaval if the 60% waste diversion rate aimed for by the Four Winds Board is to be realized. For example, the RMs of Harrison Park and Clanwilliam-Erickson have an abysmal 3% diversion rate. Riding Mountain National Park is at the provincial average of 17%.

Surprisingly, the best diversion rates in Canada do not happen in the dense population centers like Toronto or Montreal or out in environmentally conscious BC. In 2017, according to Statistics Canada, PEI led the country in diversion rates. After Halifax implemented their clear bag policy for garbage removal in 2015, in two years waste dropped by 24% and recycling increased by 13%. Small changes of habit and waste policies can reap immediate dividends and the RMs and First Nation Band Councils have been studying other jurisdictions to determine what innovative strategies can be adopted for the region.

The Four Winds Board welcomes the input and level of attention concerning the project that has been received to date. Although aspects of the process can be contentious, waste is a hard fact of life. Federal and provincial regulations and laws governing municipalities and their mandated responsibilities vis-à-vis waste management are steadily becoming more onerous.

For more information about the Four Winds Environmental Management Facility’s progress, contact your Municipal or First Nation offices. Also, keep an eye out online for the soon to be released Four Winds website.

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Blair is a personification of a ‘Jack of All Trades and Master of None’. He has held several careers and has all the T-shirts. Time to add the title Blogger to the list.