Niverville council met on August 20 for a regular public meeting. Items on the agenda included a proposal to invest in a wastewater treatment plant that would provide for the needs of the community for years to come.

The plant is being proposed as a supplement to the existing lagoon. Such a facility would purify wastewater and return it to the Red River.

Council will be applying to the federal government’s Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program for a grant to help cover the $40.5 million projected cost of the treatment plant. If accepted, the town would be prepared to invest up to $11 million in its own funds, derived from resident sewer rates and a special wastewater levy charged to new homeowners.

Mayor Myron Dyck says council has been looking at ways to create a smaller environmental footprint when dealing with wastewater.

“We have a lot of really good agricultural land in this area and any time that a community needs a new lagoon, it [requires more acreage] and that is [productive land] that is being taken out of our economy,” Dyck says. “So by going to these types of mechanized facilities, there’s less land that we [need]. It’s part of being environmentally responsible.”

Another major item on the agenda included the decision to hold a plebiscite on whether cannabis retail should be allowed in Niverville. Council’s vote was split on the decision. Mayor Dyck’s swing vote was the deciding factor that will lead to a November 26 public vote on the matter. (The Citizen has a separate detailed article about the plebiscite issue. See the link below.)

If the majority of residents vote in favor of cannabis retail, council will not be allowed to use moral or ethical considerations when voting on a future application. If the vote goes against cannabis retail, the town’s zoning bylaws will need to be adjusted accordingly.

Consideration was also given to a change in arena advertising rates for the upcoming season. Council voted in favour of the price increase, and therefore rates on billboard and puck board ads will go up by $50 to help ease advertisers into the higher anticipated rates at the new CRRC arena.

Council gave first reading to a rezoning recommendation to change an area of The Highlands from Residential Medium Density to Residential Single Unit and Parks and Open Space.

A contract was awarded to WSP Canada for $2.8 million to install a sewer line which will connect the new development at Fifth Avenue Estates West and portions of The Highlands to the new lagoon.

Council’s regularly scheduled meetings for October 1 and 15 will be moved to October 8 and 22 to accommodate upcoming council training sessions.