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Heritage advisory marks productive first yearBy Jim Mosher_GIMLI — A municipal heritage group is proving that a little goes a long way.Gimli Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee received just $1,000 in 2007, its inaugural year.“That generated over 700 hours of volunteer labour, almost 4,000 km in volunteer miles, $8,500 in grants and $3,000 in donations,” Wally Johannson, advisory committee chairman, told a regular meeting of council April 9.In its first year the committee planned to develop an inventory of 48 heritage sites in the urban area of the municipality. It didn’t. It completed an inventory of 55 sites, instead.Its second focus in Year 1 was to erect a monument to the more than 100 victims of a smallpox epidemic that swept through the Republic of New Iceland in 1876-77. That monument would be unveiled in the fall during a weekend that celebrated the 1875 arrival of pioneer settlers from Iceland.“We generated a fair amount of publicity,” Johannson said of the monument unveiling. The monument is located at Gimli Pioneer Cemetery on Hwy. 9.The heritage committee also managed to squeeze in production of an 11-and-a-half minute video about the heritage of Gimli “which we were able to produce for $3,900,” Johannson noted. The video will be shown publicly on Manitoba Day May 12 at the New Iceland Heritage Museum.The Gimli MHAC was originally developed in the 1990s to oversee the restoration of the Gimli Public School. It was resurrected by council last year. In addition to Johannson committee members include Mayor Tammy Axelsson, Grace Artushko, Stefan Tergesen, Rick Lair, Andy Blicq and Ernest Stefanson.A year on, the committee has a more ambitious schedule than its first-year banner effort. Johannson said its current-year plan keys on five priorities, including completing an inventory of 50 rural heritage sites; getting a link to the heritage committee web site posted on the municipal web site; pub-Mayor Axelsson praises the work of municipal heritage advisory committee.fishing one perhaps two heritage pamphlets, one of which will likely provide a map for visitors to do self-directed heritage tours of the municipality; fund two committee members to attend a heritage conference; and reach out to other heritage committees to share best practices.Past experience suggests the committee will outdo itself this year.Johannson said the committee is seeking $2,500 in municipal support this year. He noted that the municipal contribution is a magnet for other funding. “We’ll be applying for more heritage grants. We’ll have a better chance getting those grants if the RM is funding us,” he said.The heritage committee request was well received, but council isn’t showing its hand on grant requests because it’s yet to hammer out its current-year budget. That fiscal plan will be presented at a public meeting April 30.“This committee has tremendous momentum,” Mayor Tammy Axelsson said after Johannson’s presentation. “You’ve been very tenacious.”In other business at its regular meeting April 9, Gimli council:□ Approved hiring Ila Condie as planning and economic development clerk.□ Awarded all three of its current-year limestone, gravel crushing and gravel hauling contracts to Armstrong Construction. The bids were opened by public works and operations manager Greg Elson and public works foreman Frenchie Ouellette March 26. Elson recommended that Armstrong Construction be awarded the tenders. Armstrong was lowest bidder in each of the tenders.Armstrong’s gravel haul and loading bid was $40,200, nudging out the next lowest among four bidders of $42,360 from Albertson Construction. Its bid on the gravel crushing was also lowest among four at $47,600, about $12,000 less then the second lowest bidder.There were four bids for limestone supply and delivery. Armstrong nudged out Eddie’s Gravel with the former’s bid of $52,209.73. Eddie’s had bid $52,900.□ Confirmed Sat., May 3 as the date of a public open house at which Gimli’s draft strategic plan will be unveiled. Representatives from Thomas Frank Cram Hilderman will be on-hand for the day-long come-and-go which will begin at 9 a.m..A venue for the open house as yet to be confirmed.□ Learned that Gimli Citizens on Patrol Program (COPPS) is hosting a provincial convention in Gimli in May.□ Gave conditional approval to an August longweekend event at the Viking Inn. Among other things organizers will have to get the green light from Gimli RCMP. Last year, the hotel parking lot was home to the Budweiser Big Rig, a touring promotion for the U.S.-based beer company. However there were complaints about late-night carousing near the site, though the principalconcern was noise.Coun. Brian McKenzie said last year’s outdoor entertainment kept the more raucous younger crowd away from more family-oriented events. “It made for a lot more family atmosphere,” McKenzie said. “] think that was actually a positive spinoff.”“My concern would be that — 100 pei cent — the RCMP would have to be onboard,” Mayor Axelsson told a delegation from the Hwy. 9 hotel. “It’s just a prudenl thing to do.”In addition to getting the nod from police, hotel management is required to submit £ site plan and a security plan. The music will have to end at 1 a.m.□ Rejected a request from RM of St. Andrews council, which is seeking suppori for a resolution on supporting Canadian troops in Afghanistan. Bailey said the resolution could be seen as political because ii supports federal government policy.Coun. McKenzie agreed, then suggested Gimli craft its own letter of support. “I certainly believe in supporting the troops,” he said.□ Approved a $100 sponsorship to £ youth group at Bayview Evangelical Church in Gimli. The money is earmarked foi refreshments for the youth who will be mounting a town clean-up, as they did Iasi year.□ Passed on signing a petition from the Pembina Valley Water Cooperative which wants other municipalities to support its bid to eliminate the Public Utilities Board (PUB) as the final arbiter on water and sewer utility rates.Chief administrative officer Joann King suggested the 17 petitioning municipalities may have underestimated the amount ol work involved. “I think they should be sending this to the Association of Manitoba Municipalities and putting it on the floor ol the annual convention,” King said.
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Stonewall Interlake Spectator
Stonewall, Manitoba, CA
Fri, Apr 18, 2008
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