Council for the Rural Municipality of Hanover is eying an ambitious project which would see significant upgrades to its recreation facilities.

Council has passed a resolution which will get the ball rolling to build a new arena in Grunthal, expand the existing arena in Mitchell and make improvements to three of their outdoor skating rinks.

Reeve Stan Toews says the $7 million new arena in Grunthal would be funded by $5 million of Hanover General Municipal Borrowing, reserve transfers and CDI Fund (Community Development Initiatives through Manitoba Hydro). The remaining $2 million would be raised through a local fundraising campaign.

Toews says the $6 million arena expansion in Mitchell would be funded by $4 million of Hanover General Municipal Borrowing, reserve transfers and CDI Fund. The remaining $2 million would be raised through a local fundraising campaign.

And finally, their three outdoor rinks in Blumenort, Kleefeld and New Bothwell would all receive covers. The total for all three is $1 million, funded through Hanover General Municipal Borrowing, reserve transfers and CDI Fund.

"This is in light of this summer's negotiations with the SEC group," explains Toews. "Also in our last two strategic planning sessions, recreation has always come up as a priority for council."

The SEC group Toews is referring to stands for Southeast Events Centre. Earlier this year, this private group of investors approached Hanover wanting to build a large events centre. The plan was for a facility costing approximately $60 million and covering a footprint of about 40 acres. The complex would include two or three hockey rinks, a fieldhouse and there was also the idea of a large hotel chain putting a hotel there. The plan was to build this centre within Hanover, near the Steinbach border. If approved, Hanover and Steinbach would be asked to provide $10 million each, with the remaining $40 million coming from private investors as well as potential funding from the upper levels of government. However, Toews says though Hanover Council was on board, Steinbach City Council was not and the plan died. Weeks later, Steinbach City Council gave unanimous support to a proposal from SEC for a new $42.5 million arena and events centre downtown.

According to Toews, this new plan by Hanover Council is in the very early stages of what could be a drawn out affair.

"First we have to get the borrowing bylaw done, which could take quite some time," he says.

Toews notes they are considering a $10 million borrowing bylaw, meaning ratepayers would see this on their taxes for 20 years. He notes an average ratepayer in Hanover with a home worth $250,000 could expect to see an additional $120 annually on their taxes for 20 years. And, Toews says this would be felt equally across the municipality, meaning a resident in Grunthal would see the same tax increase as a resident in Blumenort.

As part of the resolution, the projects would move forward once a General Municipal Borrowing Bylaw is approved by the Municipal Board after holding a hearing in early 2020. All fundraising dollars would also need to be committed prior to the commencement of construction of any project.

The resolution was moved by Councillor Bernie Stahn and seconded by Councillor Jim Funk. It passed unanimously.

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