A big construction project that has been going on largely unnoticed in the northwest part of Steinbach is the highlight of the year for Mayor Earl Funk. He notes the $11 million dollar water treatment plant along Park Road at Keating Road is the most costly infrastructure project ever done by the city. Funk adds this facility is very important for the future.

Mayor Earl Funk"If we don't build this now, in three years we will be wondering where our water is going to be coming from. We have enough water supply for three more years of growth and after that, we would not have been able to grow. We don't ever want to be in a position where our infrastructure does not allow us to grow."

Funk says the other main highlight for him was the large voter turnout in the October 24th municipal election.

"We had a great engagement by our community. Voter turnout was over 55 per cent. That's huge. When you look at most communities they get 20 to 30 per cent. And even other elections that we have had, it (the turnout) has been kind of low. When you see that 55 per cent came out and voted this year, I think we have great community engagement."

He adds it has also been a huge year for him, personally, as he was elected to the office of Mayor after two terms as a city councillor.