Steinbach Mayor Chris Goertzen feels good about what city council was able to accomplish during 2016. In a year-end interview, he says city council's priorities for the year may not have been flashy but feels they were very effective.

"Certainly 2016 was a year of getting basic things done again. We've been concentrating the last number of years on basic infrastructure and we've continued that. So we've been consistent and we've been thorough and, when you look at our infrastructure compared to other municipalities and other cities, we can feel very good about the shape it's in and that we've been maintaining and improving it as needed."

Goertzen says another highlight of the past year was the stellar job the city did in hosting the Power Smart Manitoba Summer Games.

"The Summer Games were a highlight for many people. So many volunteers worked on them, so many people experienced Steinbach, possibly for the first time. We have to be very proud of the work that was done by the volunteers and the way our city showed to many people who visited."

On another matter, he says the city is pleased with how it is being treated by the new federal and provincial governments. He notes the federal government increased its contribution to the city from the gas tax while the province maintained the status quo for funding despite financial challenges.

"Seeing these changes in government brings about opportunity, it brings about some uncertainty sometimes because we don't know what direction they're heading, but, all-in-all, it brings an opportunity to build relationships and allows us to thrive as a city."