Niverville’s council met on the morning of June 2 to discuss a variety of items on the town’s agenda.
Phase Two Reopening
Mayor Myron Dyck gave an update on the town’s progress moving towards implementing phase two of Manitoba’s provincial plan to reopen businesses and services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to provincial guidelines, restaurants are able to reopen their indoor dining rooms with limited capacity. The town splash pad also has the provincial go-ahead to open, but the town has to take care of a few details before that can happen.
“We very much want to open [the splash pad]. The hot weather is here; it’s been a hot week,” said Dyck. “We have met to talk about social distancing, capacity, and possible fencing. We are also needing to have our insurance provider on board and working out our last details with the go ahead from our town-wide insurance coverage and then we can open it.”
Dyck acknowledged that Winnipeg pools and splash pads are opening this week, but until the town has a firm green light from its own insurance provider, Niverville may not be able to open the splash pad at Hespeler Park on the exact same day. The town will announce the opening of the splash pad as soon they are able.
New Grants and Projects
Mayor Dyck acknowledged the new traffic signals at Main Street and Fifth Avenue, which have been in operation for just over a week.
“This week has been one of announcements obviously from our MLA and Minister Schuler regarding the lights which are now working in Niverville, as well as the funding announcements on Friday,” said Dyck.
The province also announced new funding for three projects in Niverville. A heritage project will see the construction of a replica of Niverville’s first grain elevator. Enhancements will be made for shade features at Hespeler Park. New plumbing is planned for arena pipes which are at the end of their economic life.
Permit for Signage
Ray Dowse, owner of Dowse Ventures Inc., was present to request a conditional use permit for signage at his 299 Main Street property. The property is an expansion of the existing Main Street Heated Mini Storage at 226 Main Street. The proposal would allow the new location to have three signs sized four-by-eight feet and two signs sized four-by-four feet. The signs would include the selling points of the storage units, as well as contact information.
Council expressed some aesthetic concerns.
“Your business is destination driven,” said Councillor John Funk. “So if somebody needs storage, do they need to see all that you offer there? Or can it not come as one sign or info on your social media or website? Storage is storage. When you drive by, if there’s too many signs, you don’t even bother reading them. You may catch one or two.”
“I want to compete with Winnipeg storage companies,” said Dowse. “There are 2,500 people that drive by it every day, so I want to make sure those people understand what’s in there and what the security measures are. I need to offer what people offer in Winnipeg, so they can see that they can get the same features… It will look nice.”
Councillor Nathan Dueck asked Dowse to confirm that the fence at 299 Main Street is entirely on the property and there would not be a dispute over using the fence for signage. Dueck also asked about the visual from the street, suggesting that a fence is often added to keep properties looking cleaned up.
Dowse explained where parking would be allowed on the property and said that he projects the business will later add another building behind the existing building, which would shield the storage and parking from being visible from the street.
“Yes, the goal is to make it look nice and if I could put in a sign with a digital component in the future, I’d love to do that,” said Dowse.
Council closed the public hearing and voted unanimously in favour of Dowse’s request, citing existing precedent.
Contracts and Scope Changes
A $34,000 contract was awarded to Meridian Landscaping and Nursery for trees to be planted at prospective green spaces in parks, along Main Street, around the CRRC, among other locations. A change was made from a previous landscaping supplier based on the quotes for tree maintenance.
Two scope changes were awarded to WSP for an additional $11,000 to extend their timeline to complete the onsite engineering work related to a lift station on Third Avenue and an additional $144,000 to Fast Brothers Ltd. to complete the Niverville CRRC parking lot.