Larissa Love

The public hearing for the 2022 Financial Plan included a message from the Reeve, highlighting the challenges of the pandemic and inflation, and the municipality's efforts to balance services with financial accountability. The plan aims to protect residents and services amidst unstable inflation rates, with a focus on assisting sub-entities that have experienced revenue losses. Key points include the general municipal mill rate increase, school mill rate decreases, increased insurance coverage costs, and the final year of deficit recovery. The plan details revenues, expenses, proposed mill rates, commitments to community groups, and investments in transportation services, capital assets, and land within the Municipality. It also covers the Municipality's cash flow and reserve balances.

The 2021 Financial Plan was prepared to protect residents and their services during the Covid-19 pandemic. The plan acknowledges the significant revenue loss reported by sub-entities and provides financial assistance. Property taxes will be levied at-large for the third year. The general municipal at-large mill rate remains at 17.373 for the second year. School mill rates have decreased slightly. The plan includes the fifth year of deficit recovery. Urban highlights include Green Team positions for Riverton, financial support for the Riverton Transportation & Heritage Centre expansion, and sidewalk renewal. The Transportation Department's highlights include ditch and drainage programs, road construction and maintenance, snow removal, and increased gravel and dust control programs. Several drainage projects are planned, dependent on various factors. The Capital Expenditure Plan and Reserves Balance are also detailed.

The meeting addressed the agenda adoption and discussions regarding road abandonment and transfer by Manitoba Infrastructure, specifically concerning portions of PR 329 and PA 682, as well as the municipal portion of Road 11E. The council agreed to sign a draft memorandum of understanding with the recommendation of Option #1 of Project #74.

The Recreation Master Plan for Arborg and Bifrost-Riverton focuses on improving the quality of life for residents by strengthening community bonds, promoting healthy lifestyles, and integrating new residents. Key areas of focus include enhancing recreational facilities and amenities, prioritizing capital expenditures, outlining an implementation framework, and defining future directions for community recreation service delivery. The plan emphasizes addressing the diverse recreational needs of the population, from youth to seniors, and maximizing the use of existing facilities through adaptive re-use and increased programming. It also aims to improve communication, collaboration, and volunteer retention, while ensuring equitable funding and accessibility for all community members.

The Arborg Bifrost-Riverton Recreation Master Plan is designed to provide comprehensive strategies for meeting the current and future recreation needs of the community. It aims to prioritize capital expenditures, outline an implementation framework, and define future direction in terms of community recreation service delivery. The plan includes tasks such as project initiation, background research, stakeholder and community engagement, needs assessment, facility condition assessment, and recommendations for implementation and funding. It also focuses on reviewing program delivery, volunteer recruitment and retention, and policy considerations related to open space, parks, trails, and facilities.