Seine Rat River Conservation District (SRRCD) is looking for new office space.

After their loss of occupancy at the Rural Municipality of La Broquerie office, due to continued growth in both organizations, the SRRCD made a list of 11 alternative location options. The SRRCD says these 11 alternative locations included six purchase properties and ten serviced lots to build on. They narrowed their location options down to four and put a conditional offer on 154 Friesen Avenue in Steinbach for $275.000, subject to financial approval.

The district says there is a borrowing limit of $50,000 and they require approval from the municipal members to secure a mortgage of approximately $210,000.

La Broquerie councillor Laurent Tetrault was the CAO in 2002 when the SRRCD was formed by the then reeve John Giesbrecht.

"To [John] drainage and environment was very important, and he wanted to start a conservation district," explains Tetrault. "We went to the minister and she said, if you can find municipalities to join, we would be glad to form one in your region. We spoke with all the municipalities surrounding us and nobody would join. So, John convinced the minister, after many meetings, convinced the minister to start a conservation district with one municipality. It was the only one that ever happened in Manitoba."

Tetrault says he will not support the motion. He adds, to him it's very important to keep the SRRCD head office location in the RM of La Broquerie. The motion was tabled Wednesday morning to call a meeting with the district's chair and vice-chair to discuss the issue.

The district notes, currently, the SRRCD occupies 1,353 square feet in La Broquerie will three full-time, one part-time and one intern staff with monthly use of the boardroom and off-site cold storage space for a total monthly cost of $1,770. SRRCD says their final four options included a 1,100 square foot rental space in Ste. Anne for $1,725/month, 1,250 square foot rental space in Mitchell for $2,560/month, 1,650 square foot rental space in Steinbach for $2,517/month, and the purchase of a 1,328 square foot building on Friesen Avenue which works out to $1,700/month (all these costs include rental cost, taxes, and utilities).

"This building [on Friesen Avenue] is the only option that has everything the executive was looking for including the minimal necessary square footage, along with on-site storage, board meeting space, existing office space, excellent visibility, is centrally located and is economically sound."

The SRRCD is hoping to have all municipal responses in by March 21 in order to meet the March 31 condition on the offer deadline.