Steinbach has recorded almost $18 million worth of building permits up to the end of May. More than $4.8 million in permits were taken out at city hall during the month, bringing the total for the first five months of the year to $17.6 million.

The largest permit in May is for $1.96 million for the new NAPA auto parts building being constructed adjacent to Keystone Agri-Motive in Steinbach. Keystone acquired the franchise in the last year. There's no word yet on what will happen to the current NAPA building.

Meanwhile, there were 17 housing starts in Steinbach during may including five single-family homes, two duplexes and two fourplexes. There have been 56 housing starts in the city in the first five months of the year.