As Brandon City Council prepares to deliberate the proposed 2022 municipal budget, the community is invited to provide feedback.   This year’s proposed capital budget includes a lot of improvements for the community, including the multi-year construction of an outdoor field complex, numerous street and sidewalk upgrades, many drainage and storm sewer mitigation projects, transit and airport upgrades, as well as significant updating of the municipal water treatment plant.  The proposed operations budget at $93.6 million includes some new programs and services. This year’s operating budget sees significant investment in affordable housing initiatives, investment in downtown and community wellness, as well as an increase in recreational programming and activities.  The capital plan as proposed is $132.0 million and includes $40.4 million of Federal and Provincial grant funding. This year’s noteworthy projects include:  ·       $22.5 million towards multi-year water treatment plant upgrades totaling $125 million  ·       Outdoor sports complex on Veterans Way at $14.1 million  ·       Airport runway rehabilitation at $11.5 million  ·       Police Detention Centre at $4.1 million  ·       Replacement of four Access Transit Buses at $700 thousand  * Note that the above five projects are majority or fully funded by grants  ·       Proposed Drainage improvements across the City at $31.7 million  ·       Sewer lift station allowing for fifty years of growth in the southern areas at $15.0 million  ·       Fire department multipurpose ladder & rescue vehicle at $1.8 million  ·       Wastewater maintenance building at 1.7 million  ·       Water treatment automation upgrades at $1.3 million   ·       Reconfigure library entrance area at $1.0 million (subject to grant funding)  ·       Replacement or renewal of multiple vehicles, equipment, technology, building systems, streets, water, sewer and storm drain lines.  Prior to Council’s deliberations, the proposed 2022 budget delivered by senior administration is representative of a 6.9% municipal tax increase. Senior administration has worked diligently to keep this percentage as low as possible while dealing with rising inflation costs, challenges due to COVID-19, and the need to properly invest in infrastructure projects which will support our City’s future.   All proposed budget documents can be viewed on the City of Brandon website at brandon.ca/budget/2022-budget.    City Council welcomes comments or feedback on the proposed 2022 budget which can be sent by email to budget@brandon.ca   Brandon City Council will deliberate the 2022 proposed budget on Friday, January 28, 2022, and Saturday, January 29, 2022. Deliberations will be livestreamed for public viewing via the City of Brandon YouTube channel.   (City of Brandon PSA)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On January 10, 2022, police received a report of a fraud in which the fraudsters convinced the victim to send $900 via Bitcoin by pretending to be representatives from Service Canada.  The victim also provided fraudsters with their Social Insurance Number.  The victim received another call from fraudsters pretending to be members of BPS.  The fraudster told the victim that they would be arrested if they did not send more money.  At this point, the victim became suspicious and attended to BPS. While the victim was reporting the matter in Brandon Police Service front lobby, they received another phone call to their cell phone, and the number on their call display was the Brandon Police Service non-emergency number.  The person on the other end of the phone was pretending to be a member of Brandon Police Service.  The victim gave the phone to the BPS employee who then engaged with the fraudster. Unfortunately, police are not able to track Bitcoin, so any money sent by victims will not be recovered.  Government agencies will not collect money via Bitcoin, and police do not accept money in any form as an alternative to arrest.  Legitimate business and government phone numbers can be spoofed on your call display by fraudsters, to convince victims to comply with bogus demands.  If you didn’t initiate the phone call, you do not know who you are speaking with.  Do not give personal information, such as SIN number, or banking information over the phone.  If you are ever in doubt, please contact police.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At 2:15 Saturday afternoon, officers were dispatched to a two vehicle collision at 1st St and Rosser Ave.  The investigation revealed an eastbound Chevy Cruze ran the red light on Rosser at 1st St and collided with a northbound City of Brandon Firetruck. The two occupants of the car were taken to the Brandon Regional Health Centre and were treated and released.  Both vehicles sustained extensive damage and were towed from the scene.  The car’s driver, a 24 year old of Brandon, was charged under the Highway Traffic Act for disobeying a traffic control device (red light), as well as drive an unregistered vehicle and driving without a valid license.  

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At approx. 9:15 Friday evening police conducted a traffic stop in the 400 block of 11th St.  The 29 year old female driver was found to be suspended from driving.  During interaction with the driver officers detected signs of impairment and a breath demand was made.  The driver failed to provide a sample for analysis of her breath and was arrested for that offense.  She has since been released with a court date of January 17, charged with refuse approved screening device, as well as drive suspended and driving an unregistered vehicle.

All current COVID-19 prevention orders will be extended for three weeks while the province continues to gather data and monitor the impacts of the omicron variant, Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon announced today. “Ongoing restrictions are a challenge for many Manitobans, but remain necessary to help slow the spread of the virus and protect our health-care system,” said Gordon. “While these orders remain in place, we continue to take steps to improve supply and access to testing and other important initiatives that support our pandemic response and protect our health system. Nothing is off the table and we will act swiftly in the weeks ahead if further action is required to protect Manitobans.” The current public health orders were set to expire on Tuesday, Jan. 11 and will be extended until 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 1. ICU numbers remain relatively stable and the province will continue to monitor omicron cases, their impact on the health system and outcomes here and in other jurisdictions. Manitoba continues to have some of the strictest public health orders in place in the country to help respond to and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the minister noted. Manitoba remains at the Restricted (Orange) level on the Pandemic Response System. For more information about COVID-19 and the pandemic response in Manitoba, visit https://manitoba.ca/covid19/.