BLSD aims to reduce barriers with playground communication boards

An effort is underway to reduce barriers to communication on playgrounds within Border Land School Division (BLSD).  

Through its Accessibility Fund, the Manitoba government is providing $6,500 to help cover the cost of creating and installing Communication Boards in 12 playgrounds within 8 communities in the division. BLSD will offset the $8,900 cost with in-kind resources.  

Altona Mayor hopes new tax incentive will spur residential construction in downtown core

A new tax assistance grant program will provide some financial stability for those constructing multi-family rental complexes primarily in downtown Altona, according to Mayor Al Friesen.
    
The incentive, passed by Council earlier this month, will ensure municipal taxes on these projects, as well as under-utilized properties converted to rental units, will remain the same for three years.

Search continues for permanent hard-surface solution on Altona's 14th Ave NW

It appears a chip seal experiment on 14th Ave NW in Altona didn't work out as hoped.
    
In a trial run last summer, the former gravel road was resurfaced with the treatment in order to create a hard driving surface, however it hasn't held up, resulting in large breaks in spots.

Harv Schroeder announces bid for Altona mayor

Harv Schroeder feels he has what it takes to be the next Mayor of Altona. The one-term councillor has declared his intentions to run for the job in October's municipal election. 

"Initially, when Mayor (Al) Friesen stopped by to give me the heads up he would not be running this fall, I was not thinking I would put my name in as candidate," he admitted. However, upon further reflection and conversations with others, Schroeder says he decided to go for it.

Morden, Dominion City students named to Province's Early Childhood Learning Student Advisory Council

A pair of local students will serve on the 2022-23 Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning Student Advisory Council.

They are Bijan Salimi, a grade 12 student at Morden Collegiate Institute in Western School Division, and Brianne Judson, a grade 11 student at Roseau Valley School in Border Land School Division.

PVWC asks PUB for new water rates starting in 2023

Rates for customers of the Pembina Valley Water Co-op (PVWC) could be going up next year. The Co-op is asking the Public Utilities Board (PUB) to approve new water rates for the next 5 years, starting in 2023.

"As part of our normal process, about every five years, we will do a rate study which is one of the requirements...and we talked to our customers and understand what their water needs are going to be over the next five years," explained PVWC CEO, Greg Archibald, who said this study was the basis for establishing the new rate structure.