Candace Derksen

Municipal emergency coordinators from across the region gathered in Altona last week for a 1-day training session on how to effectively run an emergency operations centre (EOC).
    
The day began with theory in the morning followed by a simulation in the afternoon, facilitated by Shelley Napier, Executive Director for the Manitoba Association of Municipal Emergency Coordinators (MAMEC).

The Province has delayed implementing a new funding model for public education in Manitoba, but that isn't stopping Border Land School Division (BLSD) trustees from preparing for when the day does come. 

Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Wayne Ewasko stated last month that work continues on the development of a new education funding model, with one-to-one consultations planned with each school division post-budget.

More than 400 community arts, culture and sports projects will receive a share $50 million through another round of the province's Arts, Culture and Sport in Community fund.

Some of the recipients are here in the Pembina Valley.

In the Large Capital category is an ice plant replacement for the Carman/Dufferin Arena, with a grant for $475,000 

Trustees for the Border Land School Division have approved a $39 million budget for 2023/24 - a $1.4 million, or 3.8 per cent increase, over 2022/23.

The division has schools in Sprague, Vita and Dominion City here in the southeast. Nearly all of the budget, $38.5 million, will go to paying operating expenses.

Trustees for the Border Land School Division have approved a $39 million budget for 2023/24 - a $1.4 million, or 3.8 per cent increase, over 2022/23.

Nearly all of the budget, $38.5 million, will go to paying operating expenses.

"Salaries are always our largest component of the operating budget but, as everyone knows, in 2022 we saw an average inflation rate of 7.8% and we have seen significant increases in our fuel, parts and insurance. That directly affects our expenses and the amounts we're having to pay," explained Secretary Treasurer, Rachel Geirnaert. 

The Town of Altona is advancing an effort to install updated water meters in local homes, and has hired a contractor to do the work. 

According to the Town, a majority of the old meters have reached the end of their recommended service life and need to be replaced. 

The leader of Manitoba's New Democrats and official Opposition spent the day Friday touring a part of the Pembina Valley, meeting with business leaders in the region. Stops on Wab Kinew's tour included Friesens Corporation and Golden West in Altona, Decor Cabinets in Morden and Triple E in Winkler. 

New and old ideas are on the table as councilors and administrators for the Town of Altona meet to develop a new five-to-ten-year strategic plan for the community.
    
Mayor Harv Schroeder says he last participated in such an exercise about four years ago when he was a rookie councilor.

A recent surge of interest for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) in the Altona/Rhineland area has program operators baffled. 
    
Stephanie Harris, Economic Development Officer for SEED, reports the number of registered profiles on their website grew by almost 35,000 in the last month, nearly doubling the total to about 81,000. These candidates have also been submitting applications to the RNIP program. One participating business received nearly 10,000 applications, she added.

Administrators and Council have put together a prelinary 2023 budget for the Town of Altona that Mayor Harv Schroeder says meets the needs of the community amid rising inflation, while keeping tax increases as low as possible.

"(We) met on February 21st. We had a really good meeting with lots of conversation and discussion," he explained. "Council has added their input and a few changes were made."

Despite high inflation, Schroeder says the group was able to come up with a financial plan that kept tax increases relatively low without reducing services.