The Chair for the Local Urban District committee of Blumenort says ratepayers can expect a minimal increase to the LUD portion of their tax bill this year. If approved, the increase will work out to $5.72 for an average home assessed at $250,000.

The planned budget for 2017 is $369,000. Of that, $210,000 would go towards Capital Works projects. That includes $150,000 for construction of a maintenance shop, $50,000 towards completion of connecting Rockridge Drive to Penner Drive and then a $10,000 contribution to a property owner for a driveway realignment on Penner Drive North.

Leo Penner says the maintenance shop is expected to go up south of the skating rink at the park. He says it will sit 40 feet long by 40 feet wide. The shop will house both town and recreation equipment including lawn mowers and their Zamboni.

"We are running low on storage," says Penner. "The Zamboni hardly fits into this present shack. The guy that drives it has to duck his head pretty much in order to get in. It's not very safe anymore."

Penner hopes to break ground on the shop as soon as the ground has thawed.

As for the Rockridge Drive construction, Penner says the cost will be shared between the town and developers. He says they do not know how much this project will cost but says the LUD is planning to contribute $50,000.

Meanwhile, Penner says a significant project that will not use LUD dollars involves construction of a fire hall for the community. A public meeting will take place Wednesday, February 15 at the school, beginning at 7 pm.

(Maintenance shop drawings)