Brandon City Council has approved the 2025 budget, which is centered around sustainable growth and ensuring a better future for Brandon families. This budget continues Council's commitment to maintaining essential services while planning for long-term sustainability. The 2025 budget includes a tax requirement increase of 7.1%, translating to a 6.9% rise in the municipal portion of the average property owner's tax bill. Major Projects Supporting Sustainable Growth include: $30.7 million for wastewater infrastructure enhancements and preservation, including the Southwest Wastewater Servicing Project $18.2 million for various Fleet projects, including the purchase of 2 transit buses and refurbishment of the remaining transit fleet $18.9 million for land drainage improvements, including the Southeast Drainage Project $16.1 million for Facilities, including the new Police Operations Centre $12.8 million for Parks & Recreation Services, including upgrades to Brandon’s Community Sportsplex arena, Maple Leaf Foods Sports Complex, and various playground replacements $1.2 million for solid waste projects, including a diversion depot and an AI system for collection trucks Additional highlights include: $100,000 for a Tree Enhancement program $50,000 toward the Medical Doctor recruitment program $250,000 toward the Street Preservation program $50,000 toward the Sidewalk & Curb Preservation focused on accessibility upgrades Up to $100,000 for a pedestrian corridor on Victoria Ave E near Russell St. $200,000 for additional pothole remediation Additional funding toward community organizations   Other notable items in the approved operating budget include increased funding for improved road and property restoration, a new low-income water audit / fixture subsidy program, and enhanced Transit security. This budget plan ensures that Brandon continues to thrive, providing a sustainable and prosperous future for all its residents. “Brandon families rely on a high quality of life and reasonable taxes, which is what we aim to provide,” said Mayor Jeff Fawcett. “This budget is focused on addressing essential needs, ensuring entitlements, and prioritizing key aspects such as clean water, safe streets, and a livable city. We’re going to continue to focus on our plan to sustainability that we started last year with a focus on rebuilding long-term sustainability in Brandon’s finances.” “We would also like to thank the province for the $1 million investment in critical capital infrastructure toward the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium. This allowed us to achieve a one percent lower tax increase than expected,” said Fawcett. “By focusing the 2025 budget on urgent needs and re-prioritizing infrastructure repairs and construction projects, City Council is confident we’re putting Brandon on a sustainable path.”

The Brandon Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in locating this person who is: “WANTED BY POLICE”: Vincent HOULE FOR Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm. On January 22, 2025, Police conducted a traffic stop of a taxi that had two occupants. Vincent HOULE was a passenger and fled the scene while police were dealing with the other passenger. Police searched the taxi and located a modified .22 rifle. A warrant of arrest has been issued for Vincent HOULE as his whereabouts are unknown at this time. ***************** If you have any information as to the whereabouts of this person or anyone else “Wanted by Police” you are asked to contact Brandon Crime Stoppers @ 204-727-TIPS (8477), www.brandoncrimestoppers.com or by texting BCSTIP+your message to CRIMES (274637). Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to Call Display. Your call is not recorded and your identity will remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2000.00 cash for information that leads to the solution of a crime.

I know what you are thinking how is he doing this when he is in Europe and Russia seeing clients. Well the show must go on to quote Freddie Mercury. Some news from the last 7 days. Local Pizza Hut owners have opened a new location in Steinbach 2 - Brandon's hardest working guy Ty Worthington continues to expand his empire with a new company called Graphic Factory on 16th and Rosser. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567302091717 3 - Spec Savers will be opening a location in the Shoppers Mall Brandon. That is it that is all darryl@bdnmb.ca

At approximately 12:19AM on January 22nd police conducted a traffic stop with a taxi. Upon the taxi stopping, both rear doors of the cab opened, and two male subjects exited. One male took off on foot and was apprehended in a nearby hotel. When brought back outside the secondary party was gone. While being pursued, a straight-blade knife fell from the 44-year-old male’s pants. Upon search to arrest a homemade, operational stun gun was located in the male’s jacket pocket. Upon search of the taxi, within arms distance from where the two had been sitting, was a backpack with a long firearm barrel sticking out of it. Further inspection of the barrel revealed it was a .22 caliber rifle, without the stock. The backpack also contained a yellow crowbar and gloves. The 41-year-old male is bound by multiple orders resulting in various breaches. The second male who fled could not be located in the area and police continue to search for him. The 41-year-old male was arrested and held in detention cells at BPS. He will attend court in the morning on January 22nd, 2025.

The Manitoba government is responding to requests from Manitoba’s agricultural sector and opening two new Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) Service Centres in western Manitoba to better meet the needs of Manitoba farmers, Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced here today. “Where the previous government ended services, we’re bringing them back,” said Kostyshyn. “We heard from producers loud and clear that they wanted the in-person service they used to enjoy. These new service centres will also help MASC staff to further build relationships with producers, allowing them to better anticipate and respond to their individual needs.” A number of agricultural organizations have been asking the province to open new MASC Service Centres after 21 Manitoba Agriculture and MASC offices were closed across the province, noted the minister. The additional service centres are anticipated to open by the end of summer, added Kostyshyn. Precise opening dates and accompanying details will be communicated to clients in the coming months. Approximately 1,600 MASC clients will benefit from the addition of two new service centres and roughly 94 percent of MASC clients will be within a 60-minute drive to a MASC Service Centre, an increase from 83 per cent, the minister noted. The two new service centres will be located in Shoal Lake and Virden, and will provide farmers with better access to Agrinsurance, hail insurance, wildlife damage compensation, agricultural loans, pathfinding services for programs offered by Manitoba Agriculture and other programs administered by MASC. Each new location will be staffed with four full-time employees and one casual employee, said the minister. “Manitoba farmers have been clear in their desire to have access to more in-person services through MASC,” said Jill Verwey, president, Keystone Agricultural Producers. “We are pleased to see the government has listened to farmers with this commitment to open two additional service centres in Shoal Lake and Virden.” “Cattle producers certainly see value in the work being done by MASC and many like to have the option to sit down across the table from their staff to have in-depth discussions about programs and services that can help their farms and ranches,” said Matthew Atkinson, president, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP). “MBP had been advocating for there to be more service centres so that our members can access MASC services closer to home and we thank the provincial government for fulfilling its commitment to open two new offices.” In order to determine where new service centres would have the greatest impact, MASC undertook a service delivery review that analyzed client satisfaction survey results and distance to access in-person services as well as existing service centre client volumes and staff-to-client ratios. For more information on MASC visit www.masc.mb.ca.