Brandon Minute: City Manager, Budget Concerns, and an Exit Ramp Closure

Brandon Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Brandon politics

This Week In Brandon:

• There are no City Council meetings this week. The next meeting will take place on April 7th.
  
  
• Dave Wardrop is now officially the City Manager for Brandon. Most recently, Wardrop served as the Chief Administrative Officer for West St. Paul, Manitoba. Mayor Jeff Fawcett expressed confidence in Wardrop's strategic focus and leadership skills, highlighting his potential to enhance community services as Brandon continues to grow. Wardrop says he is eager to collaborate with the City Council and staff to build trust and effectively serve the community.
  
  
• The exit ramp from the Brandon Regional Health Centre (BRHC) Emergency Department will be closed for about eight hours on Tuesday starting at 9:00 am, for crane operations to position an air handling unit on the roof. The west lane will remain open for ambulances, but no parking will be allowed on the ramp. Non-critical patients visiting the ER are asked to use the main entrance during the closure.

Last Week In Brandon:

• In response to Manitoba's Budget 2025, Grant Jackson, MLA for Spruce Woods, criticized the lack of attention to rural areas, including Brandon. He pointed out that the budget mainly focused on urban projects while neglecting key issues like rising crime rates, rural healthcare, and infrastructure needs. He noted that the only commitment to Brandon was two new schools that were previously proposed and promised by the Progressive Conservative government. Jackson expressed disappointment that there were no commitments to maintaining emergency rooms in Westman or funding for a new medical school at Brandon University. He also noted that the budget did not address vital road improvements, like those for Hwy #2, Hwy #34, and Hwy #5.
  
  
• The 14th annual CAA Worst Roads Campaign has opened, inviting Manitobans to nominate the province’s worst roads for repair. Last year, 18th Street in Brandon topped the list, with concerns about potholes, congestion, and poor signage across the province. A recent survey showed that 96% of residents are worried about road conditions, and over half have had vehicle damage due to poor roads. Nominations for this year’s campaign can be submitted online until April 11th.
  
  
• The City of Brandon has finalized a new four-year agreement with CUPE Local 69, effective from January 1st, 2024, to December 31st, 2027. The agreement includes a 2.5% annual wage increase. CUPE Local 69 ratified the agreement on March 4th and it was approved by City Council on March 17th.