Niverville plans growth through annexation

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/08/2014 (3522 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Niverville will become a lot bigger if town council has its way. Annexation plans were presented Tuesday evening and the public heard some of the benefits that are expected to follow this annexation of 1,100 acres around the eastern and northern boundaries of the town.

Town councilor Myron Dyck presented the plan to a room full of area residents. He mentioned the benefits of having commercial and industrial land available to businesses. Dyck said easy access to these lots off highway 311 is also a drawing factor and will serve to encourage more businesses to move into the community.

As the business base grows, the tax base also expands and this would bring more balance to a community where the residents carry much of the tax burden.

Kevin Stott is a Niverville resident and former town councilor. He was not convinced the plan is in the best interests of the town at this time.

“Honestly, if I listened to everything that was presented to us, annexation is a good thing,” Stott said following the meeting. “I wonder if it’s the right time right now. I think there are other things in town like infrastructure that are more important to take care of at this time.”

While the town has worked at improving infrastructure and rectifying water concerns, Dyck told The Carillon that these are all growing pains and that they are being addressed.

“Anytime you have growth, you have what I consider to be growth issues,” Dyck explained. “Most growing municipalities have a challenge of keeping up with maintaining, servicing existing infrastructure and looking to do the capital projects that are needed to be done in order to meet the needs of the community. To say that we are not managing…I believe we are managing. I believe there is always room to be more efficient.”

Read the full story in the paper issue of The Carillon, Aug. 28, 2014.