Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon’s Public Works Department wishes to inform the public of changes to City of Brandon Traffic By-law No.5463 that will allow it to better address the encroachment of trees and shrubs into sidewalks, streets and back lanes, for the protection of City equipment, workers, and the general public. As per City of Brandon Traffic By-law No. 5463, trees and shrubs originating on private property are the sole responsibility of the property owner and should be trimmed so as to not create obstructions for pedestrians or vehicles in back lanes or on right-of-ways. Specifically, all branches are required to be trimmed back to the property line, up to a height of 14 feet. Recent amendments to the Traffic by-law now provide a tighter timeline for City of Brandon staff to ensure properties that are in contravention of the by-law can be brought into compliance in a timely fashion. As part of its seasonal tree trimming and pruning program, the City of Brandon will soon be delivering letters to properties where private trees or shrubs are currently encroaching onto sidewalks, streets and back lanes in such a way to cause damage to City of Brandon Sanitation equipment or potentially cause harm to the general public. Property owners/occupants who disregard this request for by-law compliance will be subject to a fine. Property owners who remain in non-compliance after 14 calendar days will then be subject to a process by which the City moves forward with trimming the offending tree or shrub, the cost of which will be added to the property’s municipal tax bill. In the event the encroachment is considered to be an immediate concern, City crews will trim branches enough to provide unimpeded access for City equipment. Immediate maintenance will be done at no cost to the property owner/occupant; however, subsequent monitoring and/or additional trimming will be the responsibility of the property owner/occupant. The City of Brandon’s Public Works Department wishes to stress that property owners can work with them to avoid issues of non-compliance by regularly trimming any trees and shrubs on their property that have the potential to create a public hazard. A reminder for all residence that in accordance with Manitoba Conservation tree pruning guidelines, elm trees specifically are not to be trimmed until after July 31st annually. For more information about the City of Brandon’s tree trimming and pruning program, call the City of Brandon’s Public Works information line at 204-729-2285. The City of Brandon thanks all property owners in advance for their cooperation in keeping the community’s back lanes and right-of-ways safe for all.

Source:  Brandon Police Service Media Release Just before 1 a.m. Police attended to a residence in the 500 Block of Louise Avenue after receiving a call that 2 persons had been stabbed. The victim’s, a 46-year-old female and a 34-year-old male, both from Brandon were transported to the Brandon Regional Health Centre with non-life threatening injuries. Police continue to look into the matter.

Source:  Brandon Police Service Media Release Just after midnight Tuesday, Police received a 911 call advising of a motor vehicle accident in the 1500 Block of 6th street. A vehicle travelling southbound struck a parked vehicle and a street light in the area. Both the operator of the vehicle and the passenger were transported to the Brandon Regional Health Centre with injuries. The 28-year-old driver from Brandon, who has since been released from Hospital, has been charged with Impaired Driving Causing Bodily Harm and Dangerous Driving Causing Bodily Harm. He is scheduled to appear in Court later this month. The passenger, a 34-year-old Brandon man, remains in Hospital. This incident is still under investigation.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At 1:59 a.m., Police stopped a vehicle after observing it travelling slowly on Maryland Ave with no lights on. Two female youths were located in the vehicle and admitted to stealing it after finding the vehicle left unlocked with the keys in it. The two youths, a 15-year-old and a 13-year-old both from Brandon, were charged with Theft of a Motor Vehicle and released to appear in Court in August.

High winds in the Clear Lake area of Riding Mountain National Park caused destruction Sunday, toppling trees in the area. This large tree came to a rest near the intersection of Mooswa Dr. And Ta-Wa-Pit Dr. The tree fell completely across Ta-Wa-Pit Dr. and forced that section of the road to be closed. Thankfully it appears that no damage was caused to the cabin it nearly hit.  Photos: Liam Pattison Photography