2024 saw Altona Town Council make plenty of strides on its newly minted strategic plan.
According to a year-end interview with Mayor Harv Schroeder, there was particular focus placed on the group's priority area of Practicing Good Environmental Stewardship.
This includes moving ahead to establish an Urban Forestry Management Plan which will provide both strategic and operational next steps for the Town of Altona.
"We're hoping we can implement it in 2025, but it's a long-term plan, a twenty-year plan," explained Schroeder.
"We've known that Ninth Street has been low for many years and, a few years ago, we had to set up a Tiger Dam," said Schroeder.
The Town has applied to the province's 2024 Manitoba Growth, Renewal and Opportunities for Municipalities (Manitoba GRO) program for additional funding that would see the road further fortified according to engineer specs.
Meantime, the year also saw changes in certain areas of waste collection.
The Altona/Rhineland Waste Disposal Site started accepting paint products and empty containers for recycling and committed to Altona's composting efforts, the Town is seeking a long-term collection provider ahead of the current contract's end on January 31, 2025.
Transportation and infrastructure
In the focus area of Transportation and Infrastructure, 15 major areas throughout town were successfully repaired, and existing sidewalks and multi-use trails were repaired or added to thanks to a $1 million mill and fill project.
"I think the community really appreciated (it)," noted Schroeder.
As well, a new lighted crosswalk was installed on 5th St NW to connect the sidewalk with the path to the new Kiddie Sunshine Centre daycare, and a concrete path was laid on McKinley Cove.
Capital investments
Capital investments, on top of the mill and fill project, throughout 2024 included a few new pieces of equipment for Public Works & Utilities, including a CCTV truck.
"This is a camera where they can go into the sewer connections. If there is a break somewhere, they can pinpoint exactly where that is and also, do some preventative work on the old pipes," explained Schroeder.
At the town-owned cemetery, improvements continued to take shape as well. This summer, the facility's first-ever columbarium was installed.
Economic development
In the area of economic development, the community welcomed 11 new businesses, 50 new building permits were issued for a total value of $18,693,800.00 and Council doled out 15 grants to local organizations and project this past year.
And as for recreation and culture, the town's rec department offered about 53 programs to residents in 2024. This includes the usual swimming lessons which saw an 8% increase in registrations over 2023 and the addition of the new Under 18 Hockey and Skating Initiative.
Progress was also made on the Town's Recreation and Active Transportation Master Plan, intended to address the long-term needs of the community, through a series of public online surveys, open houses and a stakeholder advisory committee. A final plan will be presented to Council in 2025.