Council for the Rural Municipality of Hanover this year announced construction of a new arena in Grunthal as its number one recreation capital project priority. Reeve Stan Toews says since then they have established a multiplex steering committee and also put out a survey to get feedback from residents. Construction of the new arena is estimated to cost $11 million. A number of parameters must be met by January 1st, 2023 for the arena to be built.

Also in 2017, Toews says they made considerable progress on plans for a new fire hall in Blumenort. Council made the decision last year to build the new hall. Then this year, a recruitment drive was held, resulting in the hiring of 18 firefighter recruits. Those individuals have begun their training. Hanover has also hired Penfor Construction to design and manage construction of the hall. The goal is to put shovel in the ground in spring.

A project that was supposed to be finalized in 2017 but is still awaiting completion, is construction of a new lift station for Blumenort. Toews says a major delay as a result of Hydro servicing has kept this project offline. Administration is working with Hydro and legal assistance to get this project completed. Toews says this isn't slowing growth in Blumenort, though it must be in place before new lots can open in the new development.

Meanwhile, the regional pipeline that was to provide drinking water from Grunthal to Kleefeld has changed direction and is now focused on wells north of Kleefeld. According to Hanover, continued talks with Manitoba Water Services Board seem to indicate a project in the future to provide new raw water to the community of Kleefeld from these northern wells.

2017 also saw $800,000 in improvements to eight miles of Ridge Road. The original plan was to spend $700,000 to improve three miles but when tenders came in way below budget, they decided to alter plans.

This year Hanover upped its number of community compost depots. There were 51 depots bringing in 32 tonnes of waste. In 2016 there were 38 depots bringing in 39 tonnes of waste.

And finally, the spring thaw in 2017 resulted in about $80,000 in damages and overtime work. The municipality filed a claim for Disaster Financial Assistance.

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Plans Announced To Replace Grunthal Arena

Hanover Awards Fire Hall Tender

Ridge Road Approved For Upgrades

Compost Depots See Lower Tonnage In Hanover