The City of Steinbach has done a significant expansion this year at its Public Works Yard along Millwork Drive. Paul Penner, Senior Manager - Operations, says this was necessary because of the city's continued growth and the need to have more materials on hand as well as space for more equipment. He explains the works yard now stretches all the way north to Acres Drive and will have multiple uses.

"We can accommodate aggregates, when we do tree planting,the trees are brought here, we have bunkers for mulch, top soil and different soils and then we have a bunch of equipment that we don't have room for inside, that we need space for."

Penner says next summer, the city plans to develop a bulk water-filling station at the Public Works building.

"We're looking at putting in an electronic water-filling station for bulk water users, where they would just come in with a cardlock or fob or something like that and fill up with truckloads of water."

He adds this will be handy for things like construction crews or for filling swimming pools. Penner says this bulk water station would replace the current practice of attaching a metered lock box to a fire hydrant.

He notes they are also working on a number of other changes to accommodate the city's growing needs.