Growth, infrastructure challenges for Macdonald

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/12/2017 (3091 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The RM of Macdonald saw continued residential growth particularly in Oak Bluff and La Salle with approximately 70 new housing starts in 2017.

We also saw the opening of some large commercial and light industrial businesses. Bayview Construction, DeLuca’s and C&T Rentals as well as other businesses had openings or significant expansions.

The relatively dry weather allowed us to complete approximately 75 miles of scheduled drainage maintenance. The municipality leased a fifth grader for the year to help deal with the ongoing increased demand on our rural road network with heavier traffic flows and larger vehicle weights. Late in the year a decision was made to permanently increase the fleet to five graders and a fifth grader was purchased.

The RM of Macdonald is a member of the Partnership of the Manitoba Capital Region, which is a group of 17 member municipalities surrounding and including the City of Winnipeg. Through this group we have been able to pool resources to find economies of scale on such things as regional transportation plans, economic growth plans as well as cost savings on bulk purchasing of goods and services, such as firefighter turnout gear.

There were challenges in 2017 that still remain unresolved. The municipality is having ongoing dialogue with the Province of Manitoba about the bridge replacement in Sanford and the need for highway upgrades in and around Oak Bluff and the south Perimeter.

We will continue to have conversations with the province related to what we see as other infrastructure shortfalls within our municipality.

Planning for 2018 has begun. Late in 2017, the operations of Macdonald Service to Seniors came under municipal jurisdiction. Work needs to be done to make sure the needs of the community are being met through a volunteer advisory board’s leadership.

In 2018 the municipality is planning to hold public consultations on a new municipal zoning bylaw. We are currently doing some work regarding service delivery of emergency services. Work on the La Salle secondary development plan is ongoing.

There will be more growth within our light industrial lands in 2018 as well as the opening of the new McCreary Road section that was completed in late 2017 in partnership with the Province.
    
— Submitted by reeve Bard Erb