Funk to run for Hanover reeve for second term

RM of Hanover Reeve Jim Funk is looking to run for another term as he would like to see the completion of certain projects.

“I would certainly like to try and clean up what we have started. We have started a few bigger projects, and I would certainly like to see those complete by the time I finish,” said Funk.

He pointed to the $235 million Red Seine Rat wastewater treatment plant as one of the projects, and he sees it as a vision for the future of Hanover.

“I think that (the plant) is a vision that has been passed down to us. It was something that was thought of already before I came on as a municipal leader, and I think the vision was there, and we will just continue that vision,” said Funk.

“And I think in years to come the people are going to see that that vision was a good vision, because when we think of the Red River floodway, (Premier Duff Roblin) did something, and it did cost him his job at that time, but we look back now, that floodway has saved many a basement, many a person. So that was a good vision.”

Funk sits as the chair of the six-member cooperative for the wastewater plant. The building is currently in construction just north of Niverville with a completion date of 2029.

Another project Funk would like to see completed while on council is the 58-year-old Grunthal Arena’s renovations, which just gained the necessary funding to start the $8 million project. Volunteers just need to raise about $500,000 more. Hanover residents will see a new lobby, Zamboni, ice plant, and new changerooms when the work is completed.

And Grunthal is close to Funk’s heart as he was raised in the LUD and was on the LUD’s board for eight years followed by four years as Grunthal councillor and reeve for one term. Although he is retired now, for 40 years he owned his own septic service business. He said he has always been civically minded and sat on the Grunthal Arena board for 25 years and on the boards for other organizations for 15 years.

As for politics, he said it always held an interest for him. “(Politics) has been an interest for me. I had a friend that was running back a number of years ago, and I always found it interesting. And I have been working with the public, you know, not a public servant, but just in my business that a lot of it was working with the public.”

During his time on council, there were a number of initiatives that Funk brought to the RM that were approved, such as the Blumenort splash pad, the New Bothwell recreation facility, Mitchell Arena’s new ice plant and Zamboni, and renovations of the Grunthal Arena. The project that he introduced and is most proud of is the day care in Kleefeld.

As councillor he did try to get a splash pad in Grunthal but realized that it was too costly and as there was already one in Blumenort, it seemed redundant.

“Once you’re sitting in council, you see that Hanover is one… We kind of share some of our recreation…,” he said.

When asked what issues Hanover residents are most concerned about, Funk said drainage was a big problem.

“In our last number of years when we have heavy rainfall and several inches at a time…flooding is an issue. And that is something that we are actively working on. And starting this year, this summer, we are working with drainage.”

Funk said the RM has hired a couple of outside contractors to help clean out the municipal and some provincial drains. He said although the work will begin this summer, it’s a multi-year project.

“We kind of start in the northwest and work our way this way (south)…Our neighbors to the northwest have to do their part and have the water flow also. Because if they don’t do their part, then it just backs up at our end. So, we are working together with several neighbors to the northwest where our water does flow to.”

Funk said his eight years on council has been a good experience as it is something he can do for the public. He said while councillors make decisions for the whole municipality, they do focus more on their wards and its priorities, whereas a reeve has to focus on the whole RM.

As to why he thinks people should vote for him, Funk said it’s all in the hands of the voters. “I think when we look at the track record, we look to see what we have done in the past. You know, if they’re happy with that, good, and if not, that will already show in election time. I think the four years that we did have were fairly good years and I foresee the same going forward.”

Funk, Ed Penner, and Brian Esau are the only members of Hanover council to have publicly stated they are running in this upcoming election.