MB Economic Fundamentals 2008-07

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Chelsea Terrace to get overhaul

Monday was moving day for some people at the Chelsea Terrace townhouses, as new owners have decided to revamp the buildings.

The nine buildings in the vicinity of 18th Street N.W., which contain 67 two-, three- and four-bedroom units, are set to go through a $2-million overhaul, said Marlene Glesbrecht, project co-ordinator for Harpenn Construction, which will be doing the renovations for Harpenn Property Management, which has owned the buildings since January.

"They`re all going to be renovated," she said, "new kitchen, new flooring, paint, and the outside as well."

While those renovations are being done, Glesbrecht said tenants have been notified they must vacate the buildings during the renovations, slated to take about two months per building.

http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/Article....aspx?e=1114798

 

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Talk over executor fees with family members

Gerald Conner died in Ontario on April 26, 2004, and named his brother, Marvin, to be the executor of his estate.

Gerald`s will divided his estate in equal shares among four of his siblings. That included Marvin, the executor, his sister and two of his brothers. The estate was worth over $500,000 and each of the beneficiaries could expect to receive approximately $125,000 after the dust settled. Each share would be reduced by the costs of administering the estate.

Marvin got a good start on that. Within three months he had a probate order from the court confirming his authority as his brother`s executor. He had also made good progress in turning the estate into cash.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscribe...p-4791162c.html

 

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City checks progress of its strategic plan

The City of Portage la Prairie released an update on the status of its 2008-2010 strategic plan at Monday night`s council meeting, and Portage Mayor Ken Brennan said he`s happy with the progress his council has made so far.

"A lot of the stuff, we`re tracking very well on," he said after the meeting. "I had a quick review of it, and most of the key points we`re getting them addressed."

The plan lays out 15 of council`s top priorities for the year, which include an developing a business plan for the multiplex, developing a nutrient removal business plan for the city, completing construction on Wilkenson Crescent and Crescent Road East and developing a sewage line replacement program for the northwest end of the city.

http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/Article....aspx?e=1116687

 

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Everybody into the pool

Despite unanswered questions about admission prices and low-income access, Winnipeg city council approved a plan yesterday to give $7 million of public money to a hotelier to build the city`s first large-scale water park. After more than an hour of debate yesterday, council voted 13-3 to approve the funding for Canad Inns` plan to add more than 70,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor water park space to its Polo Park hotel.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Winnipeg/2...180021-sun.html

 

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Bad parking will now cost you double

Mistakes like parking on a crosswalk, in a fire lane, or in a disabled spot got a lot more costly yesterday, as Winnipeg city council approved a plan that will double -- and in one case even triple -- fines for parking offences.

UNCHANGED While the fines for many offences like letting a meter expire or parking in a street works zone remain unchanged, council did approve fine hikes for eight offences. Those include parking on a sidewalk, within an intersection, near a fire hydrant, and on a snow emergency route, among others.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Winnipeg/2...180026-sun.html

 

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We`ll decide on Point Douglas in August: Katz

After weeks of relative silence about South Point Douglas, Mayor Sam Katz now says a decision about the costly and controversial development will be made within a month.

Ever since June 20, when Free Press legislature reporter Bruce Owen broke the news the Winnipeg Blue Bombers could move from Polo Park to the banks of the Red River, football fans and foes alike have been trying to figure out how the city, province and federal government will pay for what developer David Asper calls a $400-million inner-city makeover.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/sto...p-4791706c.html

 

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Portage and District Chamber of Commerce looks for new members

The Portage and District Chamber of Commerce is making it its business to let businesses of all size in Portage la Prairie know about the benefits of joining and staying with the longstanding local organization.

After a couple of businesses canceled their memberships with the chamber last year, Chris Tompkins, president of the chamber, said the organization decided to start showcasing the advantages that business owners will find as chamber members.

http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/Article....aspx?e=1119006

 

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Dawning of a new Bay

The Hudson`s Bay Company`s downtown Winnipeg store could see a return to its glory days as a retail powerhouse as the company`s new U.S. owners look at ways to revitalize the struggling chain.

An HBC spokeswoman said Thursday the company`s new owners -- New York-based NRDC Equity Partners -- are keen to introduce their other retail brands to the Canadian market, including their upscale American department store chain Lord & Taylor, their Fortunoff jewelry store chain, and their Creative Design Studios home-decor chain.

And one way of doing that could be to devote space within the Bay`s large flagship stores to these other brands, Hillary Marshall said.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscribe...p-4792340c.html

 

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Multiplex goes to tender

The race is on.

The City of Portage la Prairie, Rural Municipality of Portage and Portage Recreation Committee have announced tenders are now out for firms to make a bid for the contract for the first part of the Portage Credit Union (PCU) Centre.

The first part of the project will involve the site preparation and piling work at the Island Park fairgrounds location. The expected start date is August.

"We hope a lot of these tendered portions are going to be coming in under budget. If that`s the case, that`s extra money we can spend on perhaps that second arena," said Mayor Ken Brennan on Thursday. "It`s going to be interesting in the next few weeks as these tenders all come in."

http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/Article....aspx?e=1120295

 

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Delta subdivisions raise eyebrows

An application to subdivide a parcel of land near Delta Marsh in the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie drew some concerned citizens to last week`s council meeting who voiced their concerns over who the RM was allowing into their neighbourhood.

Ian Forrester, and his brother Tim, are part owners of Low-duck Lodge, a family owned recreational lodge just north of the spot where council was considering the zoning variation application. The two addressed councillors with their concerns on July 8.

"If we open up this land to anybody who wants to move in, then anybody will move in," explained Ian after the meeting. "We feel that is good agricultural land, and there should be cattle on it, not people."

The owner of the land, located slightly south of Delta Marsh, has to apply for the subdivision application because the land is zoned agricultural, and any subdivision less than 32 hectares must be approved by the RM.

http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/Article....aspx?e=1120839

 

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Posh pads now being used to grow pot

Winnipeg police dismantled a $1-million marijuana grow operation at a swanky home in Royalwood late Thursday night.

Westwater Drive residents were surprised by what took place on their street, but weren`t surprised which neighbours were involved.

"They were never home, but yet the downstairs window was always open," said Cathy Ramsay. "It`s shocking in a neighbourhood like this, though, to be the person next door."

http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Winnipeg/2...203186-sun.html

 

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Stadium proposal doesn`t make cut

City planners from five major North American cities have given the grandiose plan to build a new football stadium in South Point Douglas a collective thumbs-down.

The group weighed in on the proposal Friday afternoon while on a tour of the neighbourhood.

As Chuck Allen, a Chicago-area planner, walked along Rover Avenue near the Red River, he suggested a new home for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the community isn`t a great idea for a few reasons.

"The city`s going to have to pour money into infrastructure, which, as I understand it, they don`t have a lot of money for. In the United States, there`s classic examples of stadiums that haven`t delivered much..." Allen said.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/sto...p-4793059c.html

 

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Loni Beach plan panned, praised

It was standing room only at Gimli council`s regular meeting on Wednesday, as Loni Beach residents showed up in full force to give their opinions on the controversial proposal to install a gravity sewer system for the community.

The project has been in the works since last fall, when council formally received a petition from 95 Loni Beach property owners who requested that council create a Local Improvement District (LID) to provide the service in the subdivision.

The project comes with a hefty price tag for ratepayers. The plan suggests property owners can pay a one-time levy of about $10,000 or stretch the cost out over the period of a 20-year debenture. If they choose the latter option, they can expect to pay out around $20,000 once interest is factored in at seven per cent.

http://www.interlakespectator.com/News/410503.html

 

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Scrap yard a go in Komarno

RM of Armstrong council has given the green light to Glen Zaluski to establish a scrap metal operation on his property located on PTH 229, just west of Komarno.

Council considered the conditional use application at its regular monthly meeting July 8 and passed the resolution with only councillor, Allen Evanchyshin, voting against the idea.

Zaluski said five acres of his 75-acre property would be surrounded by a 12 foot fence at the rear of the property. Zaluski also told council that freon would be extracted from scrap vehicles and a concrete pad would be built to direct toxic liquids into a secure tank.

Next door neighbour, April Howell, appeared as a delegation to object to the proposal. Howell, with a petition signed by 30 Komarno residents, said she feared water contamination from the site, an increase in traffic, noise and the effect a scrap yard would have on property values.

http://www.interlakespectator.com/News/410507.html

 

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Arborg water park given green light

It`s a go. The long awaited, $1.2 million aquatic park in Arborg has been given the green light to begin construction.

Tom Chwaliboga, manager of the town`s recreation facilities, said the decision to go ahead was made after fundraising reached 90 percent of the money needed to complete the project.

"The business community has stepped up big time so we can go ahead and start building this summer," Chwaliboga said.

http://www.interlakespectator.com/News/410511.html

 

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Kazak trip expands search for workers

You probably won`t get a lot of arguments with the statement that Canadians "have it good."
On a trip to Kazakhstan, Morden community development officer Cheryl Digby told her driver on a bumpy dirt trail: "Our roads are so much better in Canada, and yet we always complain."
Her driver answered: "We don`t because there`s no one to complain to."
But it`s because of more than bumpy roads that the German-Russians living in Kazakhstan are looking at emigrating to Canada. A minority in the country, they are coming under fire as native Kazakhstani do away with the Russian language in favour of their own. They are also concerned about their religious freedom.
They see Canada as full of opportunity, economic stability and a future for their children. Morden would likely benefit as well, if and when, they come.

http://www.mordentimes.com/News/411426.html

 

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Teulon against increase in dumping fees

Teulon town council is opposed to a proposed increase in dumping fees and will be meeting with RM of Rockwood council to discuss it.
The increase, which has already passed first reading with Rockwood council, would raise dumping fees at the landfill jointly owned by Teulon and Rockwood by 50 per cent, raising costs significantly for both the town and local businesses.
"They (council) are going to express we`re not happy with that," says Teulon chief administrative officer Grant MacAuley.
"It is substantial."
The cost, he says, would be mostly borne by businesses and the town, since the town manages the garbage disposal service and businesses pay directly to the garbage hauler.
"For most people in town... they don`t pay anything, I don`t think," MacAuley says.

http://www.stonewallargusteulontimes.com/News/411587.html

 

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Co-op expansion gets underway

The long-awaited expansion of the Winkler Co-op food store is set to get underway soon.
Crews were at work in the downtown store`s parking lot last week to set up the water lines for a 7,000 square foot addition to the east side of the building.
Barring any complications with the underground work, the plan is to begin work on the addition itself sometime in the next couple of weeks, said general manger George Klassen.
"Work should start next week, hopefully," he said Monday.

http://www.winklertimes.com/News/411438.html

 

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Hotel restaurant in the works

The Heartland Inn has taken the first steps towards the re-opening of its restaurant this fall.
The new owners of the hotel - Steinbach`s Schinkel Properties - have hired local restaurateur George Klassen to operate the Heartland`s as-yet-unnamed restaurant and conference facilities.
Klassen comes to the job with plenty of experience working in and running Winkler restaurants. Most recently, he spent 14 years managing the Winkler Co-op Cafe.
The scope of the Heartland`s facilities and services are what attracted Klassen to his new job.
"I wanted to do the banquets and that kind of stuff from this facility," he said.

http://www.winklertimes.com/News/411439.html

 

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AirCan won`t budge

As Air Canada stands behind its decision to no longer base flight attendants in Winnipeg, more than 140 of the company`s employees are being forced to make a life-changing decision: Move to Toronto or look for a new job. On July 9, Canada`s biggest airline announced 630 of the layoffs it had warned of in June would affect flight attendants in Winnipeg, Halifax and Vancouver.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Winnipeg/2...216306-sun.html