On Tuesday, Steinbach City Council held their first meeting since the municipal election and all members were officially sworn in. 

In addition, each council member was given their appointments for the term by Mayor Earl Funk. He started by reappointing Councillor Michael Zwaagstra as Deputy Mayor. 

“You've done a great job, you've been a great sounding board for things that I've wanted to bring forward and you have been a great help in all times, writing letters to our premier and MLAs, it has been great working with you.” 

Councillor Jake Hiebert was re-appointed to his role on the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District. 

“I have heard from the board themselves, you are highly liked and you work very hard and they would like to see you come back. You've done a great job for us as a city and for the watershed and it is time to continue to do that good work.” 

 a row of councillors read from a podiumCouncillors Michael Zwaagstra, Jake Hiebert, Susan Penner, Jac Siemens, Bill Hiebert, and Damian Penner

Every term, there is a city council representative on the Steinbach Community Development Corporation. Susan Penner was once again given that role. 

“Councillor Penner, there too, you have done a great job over the last four years, a lot of your marketing abilities have been appreciated there and your different point of view. It is great that you are on the board because of the things you bring to the table.” 

Keith Unger, Jack Kehler, and Troy Warkentin were also appointed to the CDC. 

Councillor Jac Siemens will continue on as Steinbach’s representative on the RM of Hanover Joint Action Committee, a role Funk says he is well suited to. 

“I do want to tell you that in this term there will be many more meetings with them. We will be working on things. I do want to sit down with them and look at some regional projects that can be done together. You are the one that taught me that relationship is important and I believe that a relationship there needs to be rebuilt and I think you are the best man for the job.” 

Funk chose to appoint Councillor Bill Hiebert to the Jake Epp Library Board, a position that was previously held by Councillor Damian Penner.  

Jacqui Broesky, LaDawn Doerksen, and Allison Dueck were also appointed to the library board. 

Funk then appointed Damian Penner to the La Broquerie Joint Action Committee, noting “Councillor Penner, you have done a great job on the library board and I want to see you branch out into other things and I want to bring you to the RM of La Broquerie to build relationship and work on projects that can be done together.” 

Finally, Funk appointed Councillor Michael Zwaagstra, Trevor Arsenault, Reuben Singh, and himself to the RCMP Advisory Committee.