City asks for more information before approving security upgrades

Steinbach city council put off making a decision as to how they’d spend a $200,000 provincial grant on security upgrades, citing the need for more information.

City manager of corporate services Adam Thiessen presented council with a recommendation on how the funds could be spent at their July 21 meeting.

It included a truck for a community safety officer and a total of 50 security cameras divided between city hall, the operations building, curling club, outdoor rink, K.R. Barkman Park, A.D. Penner Park and the soccer park. Currently there are two CSOs who share a single truck.

The report stressed the need for security cameras.

“Due to the rise in insurance deductible levels, (from $2,500 to $10,000 in 2025) and increased frequency of criminal incidents in recent years, security cameras are a larger priority than they used to be,” it stated. “The intent of this program is to help deter unwanted behaviours, to better identify culprits, to reduce downtime and to reduce staff time spent on these incidents.”

The report said the cameras would be focused on public areas, entrances, parking lots and city assets, not private property or areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Recommended locations were chosen based on incident frequency, vulnerability after hours, public use and whether the site has equipment or facilities that are costly to repair or replace.

Quantities range from 11 cameras for the operations building for entrances and corners to two for the south storage building at A.D. Penner Park.

They also considered anti-climb mesh near air conditioners at the Southeast Event Centre and curling rink.

A project estimated at $18,000 to $24,000 would replace the stolen bronzed plaques placed around the community with other metals that are less desirable for scrap metal thieves.

Coun. Jac Siemens questioned why the Jake Epp Library was not on the list for cameras, saying they too met the criteria.

That prompted a call from council to see not only the recommendations, but the costs associated with anything else that was considered including the library’s needs.

Steinbach was one of six cities that were included in the $1.1 million announcement made April 22.

Thompson was slated to receive $300,000 while Steinbach, Dauphin and Selkirk will get $200,000 each.

Morden and Winkler will each get $100,000.

“We know that each municipality in Manitoba has unique needs, and we want to make sure they have the resources they need to keep their communities safe,” Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard said in the original announcement. “Our municipal partners deserve to have a provincial government that supports and empowers them in making their communities safer and under our government, they have that.”

Steinbach will plan a special strategic priorities committee meeting to discuss the issue before it comes back to a regularly scheduled council meeting for approval.