On January 22, Niverville’s town council revealed details of their 2019 budget at a public open house held at the Heritage Centre. This year, residents will see a two percent increase on their property taxes, amounting to an extra $35 in taxes on the average home. Waste collection levies will remain the same for the third consecutive year.

Niverville Fire and Emergency Services has been busy rolling in some new and innovative equipment this year—and much of it, they say, is thanks to the dedicated support of the community. As a result of years of perogy supper fundraisers and donations from the Olde Tyme Country Fair committee and the Niverville Health and Community Foundation, the department saw the addition of new breathing apparatuses along with a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) air pack and new defibrillators.

Gabrielle-Roy and Île-des-Chênes School are two of three schools in the Dawson Trail riding to benefit from new provincial funding designated for school capital projects around the province. The entirety of the province’s funding initiative includes new school facilities, infrastructure renewal, major additions and renovations, and new childcare centres.

It’s been four years and has taken much prodding from local municipal leaders to see action on the twinning of Highway 59 from Île-des-Chênes to Highway 52. To date, the project hasn’t even reached a functional design study stage.

After doubling their volume and capacity in just 24 months, it became clear to local businessman Dan Harder that his company, InEx Plastering, needed more space, especially in their office. The company moved into their new location at 41127 Sixth Avenue North in October 2018 to make sure they had enough room, both for now and into the future.

On January 23, Ritchot council addressed an application made by Paul Loeppky of Red Plain Farms Ltd. Loeppky’s request was to expand his existing hog livestock operation, located approximately two miles south of Niverville, from the 2,500 animals he currently raises to 5,000 animals.