Brandon, MB – After more than two years spent consulting with the business community, residents and other stakeholders, the City of Brandon’s Development Services Division is preparing for a spring 2019 implementation of a new Development Charges By-law to assist in funding the infrastructure required for Brandon’s future growth. Implemented in many municipalities across Canada, development charges are levied against new development (increases in residential units and expansions of non-residential buildings) as a consistent and transparent method of paying for the on and off-site infrastructure associated with this growth. While the on-site infrastructure of such growth is constructed by the developer, off-site improvements – things like necessary transportation routes and water, wastewater and storm water facilities and networks – are generally being constructed by the City. City of Brandon Acting General Manager of Development Services and City Engineer Patrick Pulak says once in place, the City of Brandon’s development charges structure will act as a tool to recover a portion of the costs of off-site improvements from new developing areas. “While the property taxes collected by the City of Brandon annually pay for the maintenance and replacement of existing municipal services, the reality is that new growth is expensive and must contribute to growing the City,” notes Pulak.  “Over the course of the approximately the past two years, we have worked extensively with those in the development industry and others in the community to explore many options for how to fund the infrastructure required for this new growth, and we are now looking forward to getting this framework for future investment in place.” A detailed overview of the City of Brandon’s proposed Development Charges By-law, including the proposed per-unit and per-hectare or per-square foot rates to be paid by developers, can be found here. The City of Brandon is currently awaiting a decision from the Manitoba Public Utilities Board on the proposed Development Charge By-law, with final consideration of the By-law by Brandon City Council to follow. If given final approval by Brandon City Council, it is anticipated that implementation of the new charge structure will be in place prior to the 2019 construction season. A Frequently Asked Questions document on development charges prepared by the City of Brandon Development Services Division can be found on the City of Brandon website here.

Following an investigation into the sale of contraband cigarettes, members of the Manitoba Finance Taxation Special Investigations Unit have seized 71,000 contraband cigarettes, with assistance from the RCMP. The seizure resulted in the arrest of two male residents of Winnipeg, aged 26 and 44, on Dec. 12.  The two men will face charges under The Manitoba Tobacco Tax Act and The Tax Administration and Miscellaneous Taxes Act. Manitoba stood to lose $20,945 in tax revenue if these cigarettes had been sold.  If convicted, the individuals face fines between $1,000 and $10,000 and/or up to six months imprisonment.  In addition, they may face a triple tax penalty of $62,835. The province urges anyone who has information on contraband tobacco to: contact their local police department; call the Manitoba Finance Special Investigations Unit at 204-945-1137; email smuggling_manitoba@rcmp-grc.gc.ca;or call Manitoba Crime Stoppers (toll-free) at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At 3:32, Police conducted a traffic stop in the 1700 block of Lorne Ave. The operator of the vehicle, a 23 year old Brandon woman, was found to have 25.8 grams of Cocaine, 1.9 grams of meth and .9 grams of Crack Cocaine in her possession. She was released for a later court date.

Brandon University’s annual Family & Friends Holiday Luncheon welcomed more than 150 people to a decked-out Harvest Hall on Friday afternoon, to enjoy a holiday meal, celebrate the season, and to show off their best ‘ugly’ holiday sweater. The luncheon also helps raise money for Christmas Cheer, with a theme this year of “A Season of Giving.” Over the past month, gift baskets put together in various areas and departments at the University have been up for raffle, with a final chance to buy tickets at the Holiday Luncheon itself, where the winners were drawn. This year’s basket raffled raised a total of $4,295 — a new record that is more than $600 higher than last year’s previous record. Since the basket raffle was initiated in 2013, members of the BU community have donated just under $21,000 to Christmas Cheer. Thank you everyone who has helped us achieve that tremendous amount.

Late Friday afternoon a three-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of 1st St and Rosser Ave. Brandon Fire and Emergency Services and Brandon Police Service responded. At least one vehicle's airbags deployed, but thankfully nobody was injured.