Minutes of the seventh regular meeting of the 2024/2025 Council of the Municipality of Glenboro South Cypress held at the Glenboro South Cypress Fire Hall, 425 South  Railway Avenue in Glenboro, Manitoba, on Wednesday, May 14th, 2025.

Present at the meeting: Mayor Charles L. Radford, Deputy Mayor Edwin R. Bedford, Councillors Richard J. Hunt, Dale L. Fisher, R. Gregory Fraser, Chief Administrative Officer Darren J. Myers, Finance Manager Wayne K. Ludman, and Administrative Office Clerk Robin A. Cooke.

Councillor Tracy L. Campbell sent her regrets.

Mayor Charles L. Radford, presiding, called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.

During the meeting at the time indicated, Council met with the following delegations:

Matthew Neale	     } Public Works Supervisor			    -  9:20 a.m.
Mylen Dunbar	     } Nextgen: Tile Drainage Applications	    -10:30 a.m.
Joel Penner		     } Cypress Planning District			    -11:00 a.m.
Variation Use Hearing  } #V05-25-GSC (Jefferies Seeds)		    -11:00 a.m.
Cond. Use Hearing	     } #CU08-25-GSC (Coates Subdivision)		    -11:05 a.m.
Variation Use Hearing  } #V07-25-GSC (Coates Subdivision)		    -11:10 a.m.
Ashley Haigh		     } Burns Maendel Engineering (Zoom)		    -11:45 a.m.

RESOLVED that the Council adopt the agenda as amended.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the last regular meeting of Council held on April 9th, 2025, be taken as read and approved, all statutory requirements having been fulfilled.

RESOLVED that the Council give second reading to By-law #110 (Year 2025 School and Municipal Property Tax Levy), as amended.

RESOLVED that the Council give third reading to By-law #110 (Year 2025 School and Municipal Property Tax Levy) as amended, and that it be signed by the Mayor and Administrator, sealed and delivered.

RESOLVED that the Council give first reading to By-law #111 ((Road Opening By-law).

RESOLVED that the Council authorize the payment of fiscal year 2025 accounts from Cheque #000353 to and including cheque #000466 as well as all online payments totaling $18,094.58 as fully detailed to Council by the Finance Manager.

RESOLVED that the Council accept as information the financial report for the period ending April 30th, 2025, as presented by the Finance Manager.		

RESOLVED that the Council renew its certificate of insurance coverage for the period April 1st, 2025 to April 1st, 2026 under the A.M.M. Municipal General Insurance Program through the insurance brokerage firm of Western Financial Group Insurance Solutions and thereby pay the respective premium of $197,213.42 which is based on coverage and values specified in certificate number AMM 253Z.

RESOLVED that the Council accept the student employment application submitted by William Poudrier of Glenboro, Manitoba, for the position of Public Works Labourer for the summer of 2025. 

RESOLVED that the Council contract the services of Insituform of Winnipeg, Manitoba for the sewer lining of:

•	Approximately 322 metres of sewer line on Railway Avenue in Ward 4 between Miles Street and Duncan Street;

Plus an Insituform and Unijet mobilization/demobilization fee and a service connection reinstatement fee per unit plus applicable taxes as outlined in their service proposal dated April 8th, 2025;

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the municipality invoice the Manitoba Water Services Board for 50% reimbursement of the project costs.

RESOLVED that the Council accept the quote received from Fort Distributors of St. Andrews, Manitoba, for the supply and application of dust control in Glenboro and Treesbank, at a cost of $.40 per litre plus applicable taxes.

RESOLVED that the Council accept the quote submitted by Russell Redi Mix of Russell, Manitoba, for the following work to be completed in the municipality in 2025:

•	50mm asphalt overlay on Railway Avenue from Lyall Street to PTH#5 at a cost of $63,250.00, as per their proposal dated April 25th, 2025.

RESOLVED that the Council purchase 1,500 feet of 3/4” 7- flex wire cable for use on the Stockton Ferry from Macmor Industries in Winkler, Manitoba, as per their quote received April 15th, 2025.

WHEREAS Transport Canada requires that the municipality has a Safety Management System (S.M.S.) in place for the operation of the Stockton Ferry;

AND WHEREAS a Workplace Substance Misuse policy is one of the requirements of the S.M.S.;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council approve the Workplace Substance Misuse policy required for the operation of the Stockton Ferry by Transport Canada.

RESOLVED that the Council excuse Councillor Tracy L. Campbell from attending the Variation Use Hearing regarding application #V05-25-GSC.

At a duly called Public Hearing regarding Variation Use application #V05-25-GSC, no one from the public was in attendance.

RESOLVED that the Council do now convene as a Variation Use Board and conduct the noted Public Hearing regarding Variation Use application #V05-25-GSC and reconvene the regular meeting following the completion of the Public Hearing.

RESOLVED that the Council do now move out of the Variation Use Public Hearing and reconvene the regular meeting.

					 	UNDER THE PLANNING ACT
              	   VARIATION ORDER NO: V05-25-GSC

WHEREAS Reilly Jefferies is acting as applicant on behalf of Ronald & Wanda Jefferies owners of the property legally described as SW 13-7-15WPM in the Municipality of Glenboro South Cypress and located 84131 – PTH #2, applied to Council for approval of a variation order under ZONING BY-LAW NO. 88-2022, PART 3, SECTION 3.6, Table 3.2 Use & Requirements in order to vary the established requirements as follows:

FROM:	Front yard setback of 125 feet on a corner lot within the “A/R” Agricultural Rural Zone

TO:	Front yard setback of 100 feet on a corner lot within the “A/R” Agricultural Rural Zone

PURPOSE:  	To construct a pole shed which will be attached to an existing shed for cold storage.

and after careful consideration of the application and any representations made for or against it, the Council in a meeting duly assembled on this 14th day of May, 2025, APPROVED the said application.

Approval is given subject to the following conditions:

Approval shall expire if not acted upon within 12 months of the date of making.

RESOLVED that the Council excuse Councillor Tracy L. Campbell from attending the Conditional Use Hearing regarding application #CU08-25-GSC and the Variation Use Hearing regarding application #V07-25-GSC.

At a duly called Public Hearing regarding Conditional Use application #CU08-25-GSC and Variation Use application #V07-25-GSC, no one from the public was in attendance.

RESOLVED that the Council do now convene as a Conditional Use and Variation Use Board and conduct the noted Public Hearing regarding Conditional Use application #CU08-25-GSC and Variation Use application #V07-25-GSC and reconvene the regular meeting following the completion of the Public Hearing.

RESOLVED that the Council do now move out of the Conditional Use and Variation Use Public Hearing and reconvene the regular meeting.

     UNDER THE PLANNING ACT
                       CONDITIONAL USE ORDER NO: CU08-25-GSC

WHEREAS Lloyd Coates & Anna Smith owners of the property legally described as SE 4-7-15WPM in the Municipality of Glenboro South Cypress and located 36026 Lane – RD 87W, applied to Council for approval of a conditional use order under ZONING BY-LAW NO. 88-2022, PART 3, SECTION 3.6, Table 3.2 Use & Requirements in order to:

PURPOSE: 	To establish a Rural Non-Farm Dwelling site within the “A/R” Agricultural Rural Zone as a condition of subdivision application CPS #4187-24-8710

and after careful consideration of the application and any representations made for or against it, the Council in a meeting duly assembled on this 14th day of May, 2025, APPROVED the said application.

Approval is given subject to the following conditions:
		
Approval shall expire if not acted upon within 12 months of the date of making.

     UNDER THE PLANNING ACT
            	     VARIATION USE ORDER NO: VO7-25-GSC

WHEREAS Lloyd Coates & Anna Smith owners of the property legally described as SE 4-7-15WPM in the Municipality of Glenboro South Cypress and located 36026 Lane – RD 87W, applied to Council for approval of a variation order under ZONING BY-LAW NO. 88-2022, PART 3, SECTION 3.6, Table 3.2 Use & Requirements in order to vary the established requirements as follows:

FROM:	    	Maximum Parcel of 10 acres for a Rural Non-Farm Dwelling (RNFD) site
			Front yard setback of 125 feet for house, south bins and north bins
Side yard setback of 25 feet for solar panels within the “A/R” Agricultural Rural Zone

TO:		Maximum Parcel of 54.23 acres for a Rural Non-Farm Dwelling (RNFD) site
Front yard setback of 62.3 feet for house, 68.6 feet for south bins and 8.2 feet for north bins 
Side yard setback of 2.95 feet for solar panels within the “A/R” Agricultural Rural Zone

PURPOSE:  	The applicants are in the process of subdividing a RNFD site and a Variation Order is a condition of CPS #4187-24-8710.

and after careful consideration of the application and any representations made for or against it, the Council in a meeting duly assembled on this 14th day of May, 2025, APPROVED the said application.

Approval is given subject to the following conditions:
	
Approval shall expire if not acted upon within 12 months of the date of making.

RESOLVED that the Council approve the application to construct Water Control Works submitted by Tammy Riddle of Treesbank, Manitoba, to Manitoba Drainage and Water Rights Licensing Branch, as per their proposal received April 9th, 2025, to improve drainage on her property located at SE 8-7-15 W1, subject to compliance with the municipality’s Surface Drainage policy and including the following conditions:

-	That a Development Permit will be required from the Cypress Planning District 
for the drainage installation;

-	That a Drainage License / Permit and any other necessary permits pertaining to the project be obtained from the Province of Manitoba and that all provincial regulatory requirements be met.

RESOLVED that the Council approve the proposed service location submitted by RFNow on April 8th, 2025, and the proposed path addition submitted on May 12th, 2025, subject to the agreement for the installation of fibre optic cable executed between the Municipality and RFNow in November of 2023.

Resolution – Drainage Restriction Changes

WHEREAS in the Province of Manitoba, reconnaissance soil surveys were completed between 1926 and 1996 and detailed soil surveys were completed between 1972 and 2022, classifying surface soils by their agricultural capability in accordance with the Canada Land Inventory; and

WHEREAS the soil classifications from the Canada Land Inventory referenced in the Planning Regulation, the Water Rights Regulation, and the Nutrient Management Regulations are defined as: the mineral soils are grouped into seven classes according to their potentialities and limitations for agricultural use. Where Class 6 soils are capable only of producing perennial forage crops, and improvement practices are not feasible and Class 7 soils have no capability for arable culture or permanent pasture; and

WHEREAS Manitoba Environment and Climate Change through the Drainage and Water Rights Licensing Branch regulate drainage within the Province of Manitoba though the Water Rights Act; and

WHEREAS all persons including municipalities must obtain a valid and subsisting license as per the Water Rights Act; and

WHEREAS development of land cannot take place without obtaining a valid drainage license to construct pertinent development features such as roads and ditches; and

WHEREAS the Drainage and Water Rights Licensing Branch, as of 2019, has implemented an internal policy in which drainage licenses on Class 6 and 7 soils cannot be approved, for registrable or licensable projects; and

WHEREAS the term “registerable project” is defined, separately from other licensable projects for drainage works, in the Water Rights Act. These are typically minor or less impactful drainage projects, often involving surface or subsurface drains. Registration allows for a streamlined process compared to full licensing, but still ensures compliance with regulations; and

WHEREAS licensable applications for water control works are not restricted on Class 6 and 7 soils, only “registerable projects” are restricted per the Water Rights Regulation; and

WHEREAS municipalities recognize the need to restrict development in environmentally sensitive areas and critical/significant wildlife habitats such as wetlands and habitats for migratory species; and

WHEREAS The Planning Act, The Planning Regulation, The Environment Act, The Water Protection Act, The Water Rights Act, The Water Rights Regulation, and The Nutrient Management Regulation do not restrict the issuance of Water Control Works Licenses on Class 6 and 7 soils; and

WHEREAS the municipalities recognize that some subclasses of Class 6 and 7 soils are strongly associated with the presence of wetlands, however development of wetlands is already limited per the Water Rights Regulation; and 

WHEREAS many subclasses of Class 6 and 7 soils are often viewed as desirable for rural subdivisions, lakeside cottage developments, and campgrounds due to their lack of agricultural capability, including soils which:

-	have a restricted rooting zone depth for crops,
-	contain poisonous plants to farm animals,
-	are heavily forested,
-	are affected by drouthiness (sandy and gravely soils),
-	have high salinity, 
-	have high groundwater table,
-	are too stony to permit cultivation, and
-	have a topographic slope of greater than 31%; and

WHEREAS the Canada Land Inventory soil classification system used in the reconnaissance and detailed soil surveys was published in 1965, this classification speaks only to agricultural uses, and predates current drainage practices and drainage regulations by 60 years; and

WHEREAS the Drainage and Water Rights Licensing Branch is applying this internal policy to all undeveloped lands on Class 6 and 7 soils, regardless of current zoning designations; and 

WHEREAS many municipalities are experiencing significant loss of developable land, portions of which have already been designated/zoned for development, from the implementation of this internal policy; and

WHEREAS this internal policy is unnecessarily restricting development and the potential for increased tax-base of municipalities; and
	
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the A.M.M. lobby the Province of Manitoba to only enforce current limitations published in the Acts and Regulations, and remove the internal policy denying Water Control Works Licenses on Class 6 and 7 soils; and

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of Manitoba engage A.M.M. to participate as stakeholders in the preparations of future internal policies within the Drainage and Water Rights Licensing Branch to adequately evaluate the impact of these internal policies on growth and future development.

RESOLVED that the Council set the following rates for grasshopper control and custom spraying of noxious weeds with herbicides:

AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES: (including municipal boulevards and properties)
-	$105.00 per hour for Weed Supervisor and ¾ ton spray truck
-	$120.50 per hour for roadside boom truck
-	$73.50 per hour for Weed Supervisor and ATV and hand back pack sprayer

LAWNS
-	As per quote by Weed Supervisor

NON-AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES: (provincial highways & utilities, etc.)
-	$175.00 per hour plus current year’s cost price, plus an additional 15% for chemicals used.

ECO-BAN GRASSHOPPER SPRAYING
-	$105.00 per hour plus current year’s cost price of bait applied.

SPRAYING CONDUCTED OUTSIDE OF MUNICIPAL LIMITS
-	$175.00 per hour

RESOLVED that the Council appoint Administrative Clerk Robin Cooke as Workplace, Health and Safety Officer.

RESOLVED that the Council accept, with regret, the resignation of Administrative Clerk Donna Fillion effective June 30, 2025.

RESOLVED that the Council do now adjourn at 1:19 p.m. to convene again for the next regular scheduled meeting of Council to be held on June 11th, 2025, at 8:30 a.m.