RM TAX RATES INCREASED, BUT MOST TAX BILLS LOWER
How does this make sense, you ask? It’s due to the Manitoba School Tax Rebate now being applied to the tax bills directly. This is a provincial credit that gets applied directly against school taxes levied on your property tax bill, covering up to 50% of the school taxes for residential and farm classed properties.
In 2023, residents had to pay the full amount of school taxes to the RM (less the education property tax
credit advance of a maximum of $350 applied to some eligible properties).
The MB School Tax Rebate was then sent to property owners in the form of a cheque sent through the mail.
As school taxes can amount to more than 50% to the total annual taxes payable to the RM of Ste. Anne, having this MB School Tax Rebate applied directly to the tax bill eliminates between 50%-100% of the school taxes payable in some cases (when com-
bined with the Education Property Tax Credit Advance of up to $350).
This change means that some property owners might see their total 2024 tax bill reduce when compared to 2023 despite both municipal and school taxes having increased.
If you have any questions surrounding the Manitoba School Tax Credit, please contact Manitoba Tax Assistance Office at 1-800-782-0771 or email tao@gov.mb.ca
2025 PROPERTY RE-ASSESSMENT NOTICES HAVE BEEN MAILED
Every 2 years, the Province of Manitoba adjusts property assessment values according to how the real property market values shift over time. These values are then used by the RM for tax purposes.
Many property owners are noticing a significant increase in the 2025 valuations. Please know that does not
mean that there will be a proportionate increase in taxes. Council will set the 2025 taxes in Spring 2025, based on the needs of the municipality for that calendar year.
If the new value assigned to your property is the amount you would expect to receive if you sold the property, then this is considered fair
market value. If the valuation exceeds what you believe the property could be listed for, or if there are any other concerns with your assessment (i.e. removed structures still being assessed), then please contact Manitoba Assessment Services directly at 204-326-9896 or assessment@gov. mb.ca to discuss the matter.
RM of Ste. Anne 2024 Council Meeting Dates
July 10, 9:00 am
July 24, 6:00 pm
August 21, 9:00 am
September 11, 9:00 am
September 25, 6:00 pm
October 9, 9:00 am
LUD of Richer Meeting Dates
August 7, 7:00 pm
September 4, 7:00 pm
October 2, 7:00 pm
Meetings of the RM of Ste. Anne and Local Urban District of Richer are open to the public. Council meetings are held in the Council Chambers of the RM Office at 395 Traverse Road and continue to be recorded and livestreamed via www.rmofsteanne.com. LUD of Richer Committee Meetings are now held at the Richer Young at Hearts Club at 22 Dawson Rd.
Committee of the Whole *
July 16, 9:00 am
August 13, 9:00 am
September 17, 9:00 am
*may be subject to change, check website for updates
LUD of Richer Garbage Pickup Day - Fridays
2024 Property Taxes are due by October 15, 2024 Bills will be mailed out in July. If you have not received it by end of July please contact the RM.
Some property owners might see their total 2024 tax bill reduce when compared to 2023 despite both municipal and school taxes having increased.
Photo by Myriam Dyck
RM OF STE. ANNE NOW
OFFICIALLY BILINGUAL LA MR DE SAINTE-ANNE
OFFICIELLEMENT BILINGUE
On June 12, 2024, the RM of Ste. Anne passed a By-law officially designating the Municipality as bilingual (French-English), and also joined the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (AMBM) / Le 12 juin 2024, la municipalité rural de Ste. Anne a adopté un règlement municipal désignant officiellement la municipalité comme bilingue (français-anglais), et aussi a adhéré à l’Association des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba (AMBM).
The RM of Ste. Anne makes a Commitment to Bilingualism and Accessibility
On June 12, 2024, the RM of Ste. Anne passed a By-law officially designating the Municipality as bilingual (French-English). Over the coming months, we will be working with the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (AMBM) to determine the municipal goals and targets regarding the level of services that we can offer in both official languages, prioritize the translation and establishment of bilingual resources, and transition towards these goals.
As this transitional work is underway, we are committing to offering bilingual services upon request. Those wanting service in French need only make the request by communicating with our staff at the municipal office, and we will accommodate to the best of our abilities.
At the same time, the RM of Ste. Anne is committed to increasing accessibility by identifying and removing barriers, finding alternate ways to accommodate individuals when barriers cannot be removed, and preventing barriers from being established. Our policies, practices, and measures reflect the principles of dignity, independence, integration, and equal opportunity for people with disabilities.
For a person with a physical, mental, intellectual or sensory disability, a barrier can be anything that interacts with that disability in a way that may hinder the person’s full and effective participation in society on an equal basis. Barriers can be physical, architectural, technological, or encountered through information or communication, through attitudes, or through policies or practices. Despite our best efforts to identify and remove barriers pro-actively, we need assistance from those who live with limitations to inform us of the barriers you have faced. With more awareness of barriers that may exist, we may then take actions to address them, and prevent such barriers from being established in the future.
We also welcome all requests for reasonable accommodations, and we are committed to providing such accommodations in a timely manner.
La MR de Sainte-Anne s’engage en faveur du bilinguisme et de l’accessibilité
Le 12 juin 2024, la municipalité rural de Ste. Anne a adopté un règlement municipal désignant officiellement la municipalité comme bilingue (françaisanglais). Au cours des prochains mois, nous travaillerons avec l’Association des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba (AMBM) pour déterminer les objectifs municipaux et les cibles concernant le niveau de services que nous pouvons offrir dans les deux langues officielles, prioriser la traduction et la création de ressources bilingues, et progresser vers ces objectifs.
Pendant cette période de transition, nous nous engageons à offrir des services bilingues sur demande. Ceux qui souhaitent des services en français n’ont qu’à en faire la demande en communiquant avec notre personnel au bureau municipal, et nous ferons de notre mieux pour les accommoder.
Parallèlement, la municipalité de Ste. Anne s’engage à accroître l’accessibilité en identifiant et en supprimant les barrières, en trouvant des moyens alternatifs d’accommoder les individus lorsque les barrières ne peuvent pas être supprimées, et en prévenant l’établissement de nouvelles barrières. Nos politiques, pratiques et mesures reflètent les principes de dignité, d’indépendance, d’intégration et d’égalité des chances pour les personnes vivant avec des handicaps.
Pour une personne ayant un handicap physique, mental, intellectuel ou sensoriel, une barrière peut être tout ce qui interagit avec ce handicap de manière à entraver la participation pleine et effective de la personne en société sur une base égale. Les barrières peuvent être physiques, architecturales, technologiques, liées à l’information ou à la communication, aux attitudes, ou aux politiques et pratiques.
Malgré nos meilleurs efforts pour identifier et supprimer les barrières de manière proactive, nous avons besoin de l’aide de ceux qui vivent avec des limitations pour nous informer des barrières auxquelles ils ont été confrontés. En étant conscient des barrières qui peuvent exister, nous pourrons alors prendre des mesures pour les adresser et prévenir l’établissement de nouvelles barrières à l’avenir.
Nous accueillons également toutes les demandes d’accommodements raisonnables, et nous nous engageons à fournir ces accommodations dans les plus brefs délais.
2024 PROVINCIAL PROPERTY TAX CREDITS AND REBATES
MB School Tax Rebate: For 2024 only, owners of residential and farm properties will receive a 50% rebate of their education property taxes, applied directly to their property tax statement. Owners of other properties will receive a 10 per cent rebate of their education property taxes, applied directly to their property tax statement. For more information, visit www.manitoba. ca/schooltaxrebate
MB Education Property Tax Credit: for 2024 only, the tax credit for eligible homeowners will continue to be a maximum of $350, with an additional income tested $200 for seniors 65 and over. This credit can either be applied directly on the tax statement, OR can be claimed when filing income tax returns.
Renters Tax Credit: A credit of a maximum of $525 ($43.75/month) is available for Manitobans who rent their principal residence, including those renting a social housing property, and those claiming non-EIA rent assist benefits. This amount must be claimed when filing income tax returns.
Seniors School Tax Rebate:
A credit of a maximum of $235 may be available for senior homeowners, being 65 years of age or more. This eligibility is also based on income. This amount must be claimed when filing income tax returns.
MB School Tax Assistance Credit for Homeowners:
For 2024 only, this is a tax credit for lower income pensioner homeowners of a maximum $87.50. This amount must be claimed when filing income tax returns.
Farmland School Tax Rebate: This is a tax credit administered by the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) for properties with a farm assessment classification. Owners may receive up to 40% of school taxes levied on the assessed farm class lands, up to a maximum of $2,500. An annual application must be completed and submitted to MASC in order to receive this rebate. Visit MASC online for more details https://www.masc. mb.ca/masc.nsf/program_farmland_school_tax_rebate.html
FIREFIGHTERS RECEIVE
SUMMER NOISE REMINDER
Now that summer is upon us, its time for backyard barbeques, yard parties and other get-togethers where we can enjoy the warmer weather before the snow is upon us again. While these events can be a lot of fun and are great to connect with friends and family, we would like to remind everyone that we need to be respectful of our neighbours and surrounding community when we have these events, especially when they go later in the evening.
The Municipal Noise By-law restricts noise outside of the hours of 7am-11pm. Please keep this in mind when enjoying time outdoors where noise may become and issue with neighbours. If you know that your event may go later than 11pm, you can apply for a noise permit that, if approved, would allow for your event.
For more information on the Municipal Noise By-law or the Noise permit, please see the Municipal Website, or, contact the Municipal Office.
ATV/ORV
USE
With the nicer summer weather, we’re noticing that more and more people are enjoying ATV/ORV (Off Road Vehicle) rides.
The Municipality would like to take a moment to remind riders of some guidelines to ensure both your safety and safety of other community members:
- Never drink and ride
- Always wear a helmet
- Follow all provincial laws as required when operating these motor vehicles.
- Please follow road safety guidelines – don’t cross roads without checking for cross traffic, etc.
- Watch your speed. Please adjust your speed to ensure your safety. Some areas under construction, or sites of recent accidents, might be likely to leave new debris in the ditches. Pedestrians, pets, wildlife and horseback riders also use ditches for recreation purposes.
- Don’t ride on sidewalks or pedestrian pathways – this creates
- Don’t ride on private property unless you have permission from the landowner, this includes in fields.
- Be respectful when considering how late you ride and how close to homes you’re riding. ATV/ORV can create some noise and we need to be considerate of others.
For further safe riding guidelines and ’60 Second Driver’ safe usage videos, please see the Manitoba Public insurance website for safe ATV/ ORV operations.
Two of our dedicated Fire Fighters recently received their 25 year medals. (left) Kurt Orbanski from the Richer Fire Department (presented by Chief Chris Wilkins) and (right) Lynn Plett from the Giroux Fire Department (presented by CAO Mike McLennan.
LUD OF RICHER MOWING ENFORCEMENT POLICY
Recently, the LUD committee and Council passed a new policy that is now in effect in Richer pertaining to lawns and grass height. This policy was developed as our current Unsightly Property By-Law was vague when it came to the expectations surrounding grass height. This new policy makes the expectations clear, with maximum grass heights for developed yard sites along Dawson and PR302 to have a maximum height of 6 inches, and all other developed properties having a maximum height of 8 inches. Additionally, there is a requirement for areas next to sidewalks and walking paths to be maintained to these same lengths. There are no requirements for treed or vacant acreages. The policy also includes information regarding the enforcement process, the right to appeal, and any consequences for unmaintained yards. If you have any questions or concerns surrounding this policy, please feel free to contact the Municipal office, or any member of the LUD of Richer Committee.
2024 ROAD MAINTENANCE AND GRAVELING PROGRAM
This year’s gravelling program started a little later than we’d hoped due to the constant rains. When roads are too soft, the grader and heavy trucks required as part of this program can actually do more damage to the road then they’d be fixing. As a result, we had to wait until roads dried out before things got going!
What does the graveling program entail?
The Public Works team starts by shaving the sides of the road with the graders and pulling up gravel that got pushed to the sides during the winter snow clearing. We
then prep the roads by grading them, new gravel gets applied, then the roads are shaped again, and then finally dust control is applied.
To assist in this process, the RM is divided into 5 zones, with approximately 27,000 tonnes of gravel applied throughout the Municipality. Each of these steps need to happen within short order of each other, so the team coordinates with gravel suppliers and the dust control contractor and they work from one zone to another, with the overall process being completed over several weeks.
This entire process, of course, is weather dependent. Too much rain in a short period of time stalls this process and results in unfortunate delays. The timing is also dependent on the availability of the contractors hired to haul the gravel and apply to dust control substance, with every effort made by our team to coordinate this work to be completed as soon as possible every spring.
THE LUD OF RICHER COMMITTEE GOES PAPERLESS
During the June 5, 2024 Local Urban District of Richer Committee meeting, the members made history by holding their first paperless meeting!
Having included provisions in the 2024 budget for new laptops, arrangements were made shortly after approving the Municipal Financial Plan and the committee transitioned to this paperless method of accessing meeting documents.
The committee now have municipal email addresses for residents of Richer to use to communicate their concerns, their support, or to ask any question of their elected officials. See the contacts page of this newsletter, or the municipal website www.rmofsteanne.com, for these new emails.
These new tools serve to increase the accessibility, and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our committee members as they prepare for and attend meetings, and during their work serving their community.
Roads have been extremely soft and wet this spring, causing closures and delays in annual repairs.
Photo by Myriam Dyck
INTRODUCTION TO LIVESTOCK OPERATIONS IN
KEY INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE FARMERS
Our province is located at the geographic center of North America, providing a strategic advantage with close proximity to the continent’s largest trimodal port. This positioning enables easy access to markets across North America and beyond, benefiting our agribusiness sector immensely. Manitoba is renowned for its balanced crop and livestock production, innovative farmers, and the second-largest proportion of large farms in Canada. These operations are supported by a highly developed agri-food processing and research ecosystem.
Key Steps and Guidelines for Starting a Livestock Operation:
According to our current Zoning by-law, having more than 10 animal units of waste (AU) qualifies as a livestock operation. Read on for more information on what’s an AU and how to calculate them.
Side Note:
Hobby farming is the keeping of livestock for personal use only (not to sell) up to 10 AU.
Contact our office if this is what you’re envisioning to discuss the correct permits to get you started.
Please see the table below:
Here’s what you need to know:
Between 10 and 79 Animal Units:
If you plan to keep up to 79 AU, please contact us. If the operation meets our requirements, it is permitted in most agricultural zones with a simple Development Permit.
Between 80 to 300 Animal Units:
For operations with 80 to 300 AU, may be a permitted or may require a conditional use in most agricultural districts. Please see the table below for detailed requirements. Note: a Development Permit is required.
Over 300 Animal Units:
If your operation exceeds 300 AU, a Technical Review will be done by a provincially appointed Committee (TRC).
This process is longer and includes advertising the operation in the newspaper and on-site.
We highly recommend visiting Livestock Technical Review at https:// www.gov.mb.ca/mr/livestock/index. html for a comprehensive overview of the process and timeline.
Submitting complete documentation is crucial for managing the process efficiently.
Photo by Myriam Dyck
KEY INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE FARMERS (CONTINUED)
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
Distance Between Livestock Operation and Residential Areas:
See table on right, or see Appendix 3: Mutual Separation Distances for Siting Livestock Operations in the RM of Ste. Anne Zoning By-law on page 113 for detailed distance requirements.
The Zoning By-law is available on the RM website.
For instance, if you plan to have 257 AU, the separation distance from the earthen manure storage to the nearest residential house is 399.90 meters, and the distance to the Animal Confinement Facility (Barn) or Non-earthen Manure Storage Facility (Slurry Tank) is 199.95 meters. The separation distance to designated residential areas is greater than to residential dwellings.
Calculating Animal Units:
An Animal Unit of Waste (AU) is a unit of measure based on the quantity of Nitrogen produced by each different type of animals through their waste.
See Appendix 1: Animal Unit Calculation Table on page 111 of the RM of Ste. Anne Zoning By-law 2023-13 will show how many AUs each individual animal can produce, and alternatively, how many animals produce 1 AU.
Example: For a hog operation with 1000 weanlings and 2000 finishers:
1000 * 0.033 = 33 animal units
2000 * 0.143 = 286 animal units
Total = 319 animal units
We are here to assist you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email or call 204-422-5929 and ask for Hadiseh (Development Officer Development@rmofsteanne.com) or Colette (Planning Assistant Planning@rmofsteanne.com).
Thank you to our local producers for being an integral part of the RM of Ste. Anne’s agricultural community, and for the service to the greater society.
RM OF STE ANNE MUNICIPAL OFFICE:
395 Traverse Road (Physical address)
Box 6, Grp 50, RR 1 (Mailing address), Ste. Anne, MB R5H 1R1
Telephone: (204) 422-5929 Fax: (204) 422-9723 general@rmofsteanne.com | www.rmofsteanne.com
Office Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Closed on Holidays
For specific inquiries, the following Administrative Staff may be contacted:
Chief Administrative Officer - Mike McLennan cao@rmofsteanne.com
Legislative Officer - Nadine Vielfaure legislative@rmofsteanne.com
Operations Manager - Kevin Medeiros pw@rmofsteanne.com
Finance Officer - Tiana Bohemier finance@rmofsteanne.com
Finance Administrative Assistant - Colleen Maurice accounts@rmofsteanne.com
Development Officer - Hadiseh Bajelan development@rmofsteanne.com
Planning Assistant - Colette Martens planning@rmofsteanne.com
Receptionist – Samantha Kornelson reception@rmofsteanne.com
Reception/Finance Administrative Assistant Ashley Poiron - general@rmofsteanne.com
Municipal Emergency Coordinator Chrissy Bohemier - mec@rmofsteanne.com
RM OF STE. ANNE COUNCIL
Reeve: Richard Pelletier - 204-371-7756 reevepelletier@rmofsteanne.com
Councillors:
Ward 1 - Sarah Normandeau ward1sarah@outlook.com / 204-392-6900
Ward 2 - Kyle Waczko councillorwaczko@rmofsteanne.com / 204-510-4968
Ward 3 & LUD Council Rep – Patrick Stolwyk councillorstolwyk@rmofsteanne.com / 204-223-2570
Ward 4 - Brad Ingles ward4rmsteannebrad.i@gmail.com / 204-793-0671
Ward 5 - Robert Sarrasin robert.rm.steanne@gmail.com / 204-791-7735
Ward 6 - Randy Eros - reros@mts.net / 204-371-2959
LUD COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Chair John Lenton - 204-422-8496 / 204-371-1674 jlenton@rmofsteanne.com
Norm Bremaud - 204-371-9282 nbremaud@rmofsteanne.com
Jessica Ostrowski - 204-355-8245 jostrowski@rmofsteanne.com
RCMP: Steinbach Detachment - 204-326-4452
During an emergency, dial 911 / 204-326-1234
RAMS Animal Control Officer: 204-223-5521
RICHER FIRE DEPARTMENT:
For questions on burn bans or burn permits
Richer Fire Chief Chris Wilkins richerchief@rmofsteanne.com / 204-422-5966
RM OF STE. ANNE STAFFING UPDATES
The RM staff is ever changing. This June, we were pleased to welcome Dylan with the École Pointe-des-Chênes school program who assisted our public works crew on a weekly basis to gain some workplace experience. Thanks Dylan for your great work. We look forward to partnering with our local high schools for years to come!
Three students also join our public works team this summer, with financial assistance from the Green Team and Canada Summer Jobs programs. These seasonal employees will be helping with our gravel program, mowing grass, maintaining our parks, installing and replacing signs, and many other tasks that will need to be done this summer.
With the sudden and untimely death of one of our employees, the Municipality is left to fill the void created by the loss of this general labourer with the Public Works team. Despite the grief that is felt every day, the team is looking to the future, and is eager to welcome a new member to join their ranks to help carry the load and serve RM residents.
In the office, our receptionist Ashley Poiron will be taking on the Finance Administrative Assistant position while the current employee in this position, Colleen Maurice, prepares for a leave. This means that for the next while, members of the public will be greeted by Samantha Kornelson who has joined the Municipality as our new Receptionist.
We wish to welcome all of our newest team members.
