The RM of Stanley has come through some recent years dealing with varying extremes, like flooding and drought conditions. Reeve Ike Friesen said 2023 has thankfully been an uneventful year, however, it was a remarkable year.
"Hopefully the extremes are behind us," said Friesen.
Among the projects completed on their list in 2023 were flood protection projects in the Villages of Schanzenfeld and Hochfeld. Friesen said both communities dealt with flooding the last two springs.
"Some water was rerouted and some new culverts were put in to help with elevating that problem," said Friesen. "We feel that we have hopefully solved that problem going into the future."
Friesen said the pathway linking Schanzenfeld to Winkler was also completed in 2023 with limestone.
Phase one of the Reinfeld Park project was also complete. "Thanks to the amazing efforts of the community to head that up," said Reeve Friesen.
"Ryan Friesen from Reinfeld has been in charge of that committee (Reinfeld Rec Committee), and we've been very happy with the effort that they're putting into it."
Phase one included a new ice rink with a warming shack, along with a parking lot and driveway. Plans for phase two are underway now.
Construction of the Stanley Corridor Reservoir project has almost finished too. "We're waiting on some equipment, but it is very near completion and that's a $6.4 million cost-shared reservoir with the Province of Manitoba. This will provide a stable source of potable water for future development in the corridor, as well as a stable water source for the Boundary Trails Hospital," said Friesen.
Stanley Park also continues to draw both visitors and people from the area. Friesen said visitors to the park are more than 20,000 people in the year, and that's through bookings of shelters as well as other visitors coming to the park.
Friesen feels the improvements they're making at the park have been a big reason more and more people are going there.
"This year (2023), we put up 12 new solar lights as well as the Creek Bridge will be replaced. It's been built, but it will be installed in the spring. We have new signage throughout the park, as well as the shelter, was relocated to the RV campsites...We also clear the parking lot for the winter, so people can go for walks, walk their dogs and sled, snowshoe, and things like that."
As far as road upgrades, the RM dustproofs 40 kilometers of road every year, which is done in three applications. "We upgraded 5.6 kilometers of dirt road to shale sand mix on the road, as well as 3 1/2 kilometers of new limestone pathways."
Friesen said they are very happy to see more pathways getting done, connecting different communities. For the coming year, the RM has applied for a grant for limestone pathways for both Blumenfeld and Hochfeld.
"I would like to thank our staff who are continually striving to serve the people of Stanley," said Friesen. "They show up when it's cold and dark and blowing snow, and they show up when the flood waters are running over the roads. They take great pride in the work they do and it shows in the municipality, so I'd like to thank them."