Plenty of projects will keep Niverville council busy in 2024

While 2023 was a year of waiting and learning to be patient for Niverville Mayor and Town Council, it appears things are turning around for the new year.

Mayor Myron Dyck lists some of the projects they are looking forward to being completed this year, starting off with the RCMP offices still under construction inside the Niverville Town Offices.

“The RCMP station, with 4 Members, will soon be complete, and will have a full-time office in the community they will be serving. And we are very much looking forward to seeing that, and to officially welcome these members to our town. That's just a huge step forward in terms of emergency services, and so, we're very excited about that.”

Dyck continues, noting movement on some projects from 2023 will be carried over into this year, like the next phase of the Wastewater Treatment Facility. The reason being a new provincial government. So, this year be a year for growing relationships with the various departments and ministers.

"We will be having discussions with them about our community. Discussions with them about their goals, their objectives, what they're looking to achieve, and then trying to find ways where we can align with them, and seeing what we can move forward on.”

Dyck says there are still some things ‘kind-of-up-in-the-air', because of the change in government, so, until those meetings have taken place, it’s a wait-and-see for Town Council and Niverville residents.

When it comes to projects that will affect town directly, Dyck says council is looking to address the issue of Niverville residents that are still on their own well-water.

“There will be informational open houses planned in the coming weeks. Our hope is to hear from them (residents). So, Council is not saying they want to go forward on such a project, but we have had conversations with people on both sides of this topic.”

He adds, they (Council) have promised to put in the work and effort and get funding from different levels of government, if residents want their homes to be hooked up to town water.

“So, these open houses are an opportunity to say what they would really like. So, we're looking forward to that, just to hear what people have to say or is this something that we're just going to put back on the back burner again for a time or are we going to move forward. We are anxious to see what that will bring.”

Dyck continues, “Another thing for 2024, just to let people know, as far as percentage of budget, we're spending a larger percentage of budget on road repairs this year, than we have in a number of the past years. So, while it may sound like maybe in dollars and cents terms, to not be as significant as some would like, it is a significant increase in percentage. So, we're just trying to do a bit of catch up, get a little bit ahead on that.”

Dyck says they will also be adding more green spaces to the town this year, including more pathways, perhaps a passive rest area or butterfly gardens. He says council is always open to suggestions from residents.

Then addressing the 'elephant in the room', Dyck says, the annexation public hearing dates regarding Niverville annexing land from the RM of Hanover have been set for Wednesday, January 31, Thursday February 1 and Friday, February 2, taking place at the Niverville Community Resource and Recreation Centre.

Further to that, Dyck notes, the Provincial Municipal Board will be meeting with Niverville and area residents, and he is eager to hear what the outcome will be.

“All in all, when we look at the economic viability of a community, and the sustainability of a community, it's not about trying to, you know, look over your fence and see what your neighbor has. When you are asked a question by the province, can you please do a plan for your community as far as land that is needed for your growth capacity for the next 25 years? So, we had to answer.”

He continues, “So, we did hire the consultants to do the work, and it was on that basis that, if we're just looking at what it would mean to expand parks, to expand residential neighborhoods, to expand commercial areas, to expand industrial areas, that's the acreage that it is (annexation proposal). So, the presentation will be made, and all parties will come to those meetings at the end of January and have a chance to have their say. The municipal board will then compile their report, present it to the Minister of Municipal Affairs, and we'll get a decision based on that decision. We'll either have nothing to do or we'll have something to do so.”

Dyck acknowledges that there are Niverville residents with legitimate concerns and questions. "And we appreciate that. And so, through the process we've been trying to make it understood that nothing is nothing. They shouldn't see a change. It merely provides them an opportunity to speak.”

The mayor says, his desire is for residents in the annexation affected areas to believe that they, as council hope the best for everyone involved. "That is the honest goal of council. That you're still able to utilize your home, your land, for the purpose you're currently using it for, provided it is in keeping with the RM of Hanover's current bylaws and rules. The only change will be to which RM they are paying taxes.”

“So, we're working with zoning to make it congruent. We're working with land-use to make it congruent. We just want people to feel welcome in our community, not adversarial. We're trying our best, but we have a job to do, and when we're asked what does the community look like in 25 years and what do you need? That's what this is about.”

Dyck invites anyone in the town who has questions, concerns or would like to sit in on a Town Council meeting to join them on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month. These are open to the public. The first meeting of the month begins at 9am and the second meeting of the month begins at 7pm in a meeting room in the Niverville Community Resource and Rec Centre.

Members of the public wishing to make a presentation to Council should contact the Administration Office at least 3 working days prior to a scheduled meeting to ensure a spot on the agenda.