Two emotional presentations at Tuesday night’s Steinbach City Council meeting highlighted the lasting damage and distress caused by the September 11–12 flood event. Georgetown residents and the Steinbach and Area Animal Rescue both described devastating losses, calling for answers and long-term solutions to prevent future flooding. Georgetown residents describe years of flooding and fear Speaking on behalf of the Georgetown neighbourhood, resident Meg Robinson told council she has lived through five sewage backups, the most recent two in 2024 and 2025. Representing homeowners from several streets including Golfview Crescent, Valerie Lane, and Parkview Crescent, she said flooding has left many residents traumatized, financially strained, and unsure how to protect their homes. “Our mission for this meeting is to find answers to our questions and a long-term solution for the sewer backup problem in our neighborhoods,” said Robinson. “We love our homes and our neighbourhood, but our infrastructure is failing us.” Robinson presented a detailed history of the area’s sewer network, explaining that the original system from 1988 was designed to serve around 150 homes, adding that over the years, additional developments, including Granite Park, Clear Spring Greens, and the Steinbach Aquatic Centre, have been connected to the same line. She questioned whether that system can handle today’s demand and asked whether recent flooding could be linked to the added pressure from these expansions. Robinson also raised concerns about the impact of pool drainage during annual maintenance periods, noting that sewage backups have coincided with those times. “During the flood of September 12th, 2025, the lift station was pumping at a rate of 465 litres per second, surpassing its capacity and running continuously for about 20 hours,” she said. “This leads us to ask: where is all the extra sewage coming from, and how can we stop it?” Residents speak of trauma and financial loss Robinson shared the results of a neighbourhood survey showing that 69 per cent of Georgetown homes experienced sewage backup during the September 2025 flood. Many, she said, have invested tens of thousands of dollars in repairs and prevention, only to be flooded again. “We don’t sleep when it rains,” she said. “We are already doing everything recommended by the city. We just want to know what is happening and how it can be fixed.” She described the emotional toll of repeated flooding, saying residents experience anxiety and post-traumatic stress during every rainfall. “The trauma of hearing rain in the forecast and wondering if sewage will come through our basement again has taken years off our lives,” she told council. Robinson concluded by urging the city to investigate the source of the problem and compensate affected homeowners, saying residents feel “failed and left out in the cold.” Councillors acknowledge trauma and commit to solutions Councillor Susan Penner thanked Robinson for her thorough presentation and expressed empathy for residents’ experiences, noting that her own family has also been affected by flooding. “It really hit me a few weeks ago when there was a weather warning for heavy rain, and we couldn’t sleep,” Penner said. “If you’re paying a lot of taxes, you should be living in a safe neighbourhood. And safety doesn’t just involve crime. We need safety from water, too.” Penner said she believes council is “100 per cent committed” to addressing the issue and hopes to see action begin next spring. “We can’t continue to live like this,” she said. “This isn’t okay.” Councillor Damian Penner also spoke, clarifying that council members are representing residents in this matter rather than defending city operations. “We are representing you to come up with a solution, not necessarily defending the city,” he said. “I hope that gives you some peace going from here.” Animal rescue shelter faces repeated flooding Also addressing council was Michelle Neufeld, president of the Steinbach and Area Animal Rescue. She said the organization’s shelter on Keating Road has flooded twice in two years, despite following all city drainage and grading requirements during construction. “I don’t want to be here tonight,” Neufeld began. “Every cent we raise goes toward animals in our care. That money was spent instead on pumps, clean-ups, and repairs. It’s devastating.” Neufeld said flooding has become a recurring problem due to the nearby creek’s limited capacity and buildup of brush and debris that restrict water flow. Even light rainfall now causes the creek to rise, she said, and heavy storms completely overwhelm it. “When an open channel becomes obstructed, the water has nowhere to go except our building,” Neufeld said. “The creek beside us is not deep enough, not wide enough, and it’s full of vegetation. The water simply can’t move.” She made three requests to council: immediate clearing and maintenance of the creek; a formal engineering reassessment of the drainage system; and a regular maintenance schedule to ensure the channel remains unobstructed. “We are not asking for special treatment,” Neufeld said. “We are asking for the same basic protection any property owner expects, to have a public drainage channel kept clear so water can flow where it’s supposed to.” She warned that the rescue’s insurance renewal in November may be at risk unless the city commits to a plan. “We pour our hearts into this building to keep animals safe,” she said. “Now the building itself isn’t safe during storms.” Mayor Funk: “We are serious about solutions” Mayor Earl Funk thanked both delegations for their detailed presentations and acknowledged the emotional and financial hardship they’ve endured. “They did a wonderful job presenting their challenges and concerns,” Funk said. “Council has heard them, and their presentations will be added to our stormwater study and investigation.” He said city administration is already reviewing the flooding events and that a stormwater investigation will be discussed at council’s November study session. “We are serious about looking at what we can do and how we can work together to make the quality of life better,” he said. Funk said short-term fixes are being reviewed, but long-term solutions will depend on the results of the investigation. “Anything that can be done quickly, administration is already working on,” he said. “But we want to be mindful where we put the money. Wherever we invest, we need to make sure it creates real change.” He also acknowledged the trauma residents experience whenever rain is in the forecast. “You don’t realize some of the things they said, like the fear when it’s raining—people not going to work, not going to sleep,” Funk said. “I really feel for them. Together, we can do a better job.” City investigation underway Council confirmed that all material from both delegations will be forwarded to the city’s engineering and public works teams as part of the upcoming stormwater investigation. The study will evaluate drainage capacity, system pressure, and maintenance needs, with recommendations expected to be discussed in November. Mayor Funk said council and administration remain committed to finding both short- and long-term solutions. “We can’t fix everything, but we can do what we can,” he said. .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }