An expanded water treatment system is one of the city's priorities.Steinbach Mayor Chris Goertzen says there are promising signs that the city's growth will be brisk in 2017. The city has seen a steady increase in building permits the past three years with $32 million worth in 2014, $35 million in 2015 and about $40 million last year. And he senses that number will rise again this year.

"2017, from the talk in the community, is we're going to see significant growth again. We're going to see growth in the commercial sector, certainly in the service sector as well as in housing. I'm really looking forward to seeing those permits come through, more people moving to Steinbach, allowing us to do more with the dollars that come in to improve the services for our citizens."

Goertzen says the city will focus on two major initiatives this year.

"First of all the recreational and cultural facility renewal and, second of all, our secondary water treatment plant that we are working on. We want to see both of those come to fruition over the next one-and-a-half to two years. Also, basic infrastructure renewal will continue because we don't want to neglect the basics."

The Mayor remains optimistic that even while the senior levels of government are facing financial challenges, there will be money to fund major municipal projects.

"We do see the Building Canada fund as a significant fund that has been increased. Those are federal and provincial dollars that then get matched or a portion of it gets matched by municipalities. That's really good news for us as a growing community because we have some significant challenges ahead if we want to continue to provide good services and improve services."