The Rural Municipality of Hanover is holding its strategic planning session this weekend.
    
It has been two months since the municipal election and Reeve Jim Funk says this is a logical next step.

"The first order of business is to sit down with the new Council and management to determine what our strategic priorities will be for the upcoming two years and beyond," notes Funk.

Funk says he is hoping for unified direction from Council as to capital project priorities, including direction on recreation, economic development and working with neighbouring municipalities.

The Reeve says he sees 2023 as a "reset" year because of how busy 2022 was, noting it will be a time of building up their reserves for this current term. He adds 2023 should also see their senior management hammer out some of the design work and issuing of requests for proposals for construction of the wastewater treatment facility; a planned venture between Hanover, Tache, Ritchot and Niverville. 

The RM of Hanover has at least two recreation capital projects that were started in 2022 that could be completed this year. In Grunthal, work started on a new soccer field. With the grass seeded last fall, it is anticipated that the field will be ready for use either in late fall or next spring. In Blumenort, construction is nearly complete on a new washroom, canteen and picnic shelter at the park. With some hydro work and landscaping left to be finished, that is scheduled to open in spring. 

Meanwhile, Funk says he anticipates the largest hurdle that Council will face this year will likely be providing consistent and affordable services with the rising rate of inflation. With costs going up for fuel, equipment, construction, labour and material, Funk says it will make it difficult to continue providing an affordable tax rate while maintaining services that ratepayers are used to.