The June 18 meeting opened on a high note as council welcomed Rodney Sage, city manager for Brandon and board member of the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA). Sage was in attendance to offer an official congratulations and award to council for Niverville’s environmental ingenuity, displayed in the lagoon’s remediation through natural means.
“It is my distinct honour and privilege this evening, on behalf of CAMA, to present the Town of Niverville with an environment award as part of the awards of excellence program,” said Sage. “Each year, CAMA recognizes the value of excellence and professionalism in municipal administration across Canada through the annual awards program.”
He added that success stories such as Niverville’s are circulated widely to provide other local governments with new ideas that may prove useful for implementation in their own communities.
For the 2019 award, CAMA received 41 nominations. Each nomination was measured on the criteria of innovation, creativity, and significant change.
“The environment award recognizes the commitment of a municipality to environmentally sustainable governance, to protecting the environment, and to combatting climate change,” Sage added.
Next on council’s agenda was a public hearing for a request to run a licensed home-based daycare with a French influence at 69 Cobblestone Court. The applicant has been allowed by the province to care for a total of eight children, including her own four children.
One letter of objection was received from a neighbour to the applicant whose driveway abuts with that of the applicant. Their concerns included property valuation next to a daycare, noise caused by groups of children at play, and disrespect for neighbouring property, citing incidents where daycare toys have been left on their property and damage done to their sump pump hose.
Traffic was another concern at drop-off and pick-up times. They suggested that parents of the daycare children have been using their driveway or parking on the wrong side of the street, which causes safety concerns.
Council discussed the proposal and concerns at length, eventually voting in favour of the daycare proposal with conditions attached. Mayor Myron Dyck presented the conditions.
“Being that daycares are an essential part of community life… a motion is made to grant the conditional use based on the following conditions: a two-year review of the conditional use [permit], that communication is made to all parents of [daycare] children… in regards to drop-off and pick-up procedures and that that be included in a policy manual given to parents and handed to the town office for review, that an annual business license will be obtained, and that all things related to the children and the toys… shall all be retained on 69 Cobblestone and shall not encroach on the neighbour’s property.”
Finally, council announced changes to their July meeting dates, which will now take place on July 9 and 23, both to be held in the evening at 7:00 p.m.