Council for the Rural Municipality of Ritchot has voted against accepting funding from the province for flood preparedness.

Last week, Municipal Relations Minister Rochelle Squires announced a $3 million flood protection program for municipalities. Through the program, municipalities can be reimbursed for up to 100 per cent of approved flood preparedness or resiliency projects and equipment costs. The maximum funding available for each municipality will be based on the total value of all approved proposals, but up to $150,000 may be available for each municipal proposal.

Ritchot Mayor Chris Ewen says his Council voted on Wednesday to deny the funding.

"Only because we just didn't have enough information," says Ewen.

Ewen says the concern is that this funding might replace a program such as Disaster Financial Assistance. And, if it ends up being a bad flood year, Ewen says their costs associated with protection and preparedness may well exceed $150,000.

"(We) are just a little bit leery," he says. "We want to do our homework, contact the province to get a little bit more information."

Ewen says if they find out there will be additional funding supports in place for flooding, his Council can always reverse its decision.

"If that were the case then I would call a special meeting as Mayor for Council to review the application again," says Ewen. "I would push a vote in favour because then we have all the due diligence that's needed to make a sound decision."

Ewen says though he is excited to know the province is willing to work with municipalities, he has contacted other reeves and mayors along the Red River to inform them of Ritchot's decision.

"Hopefully we can stick together to ensure that the province continues to support us as they have in the past and not just do a one time prepayment," he says.

Ewen says revised numbers show Ritchot spent $103,000 on flood preparedness in 2019. It took until November for the province to announce a Disaster Financial Assistance program to cover those costs.

Meanwhile, though the National Weather Service is calling for a chance of major flooding along the Red River south of the border, Manitoba has yet to release its first flood outlook.