Brandon Minute: Illegal Dumping, Shared Services, and a Minor Injury Clinic

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

This Week In Brandon:

• There will be a meeting of City Council today at 7:00 pm. Council will receive an update on the Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples' Council, as well as the results of the City’s Fossil Fuel Reduction Fleet Study. Administration is recommending that Council approve the bid from Innovative Plumbing and Heating Inc. in the amount of $123,424.50 for the replacement of the sewer stack at the Civic Administration Building.
  
  
• A downtown Brandon facility, recently renovated at a cost of $600,000, is set to become the city's first minor injury and illness clinic, but is currently in need of doctors. The clinic, which will operate daily from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, will treat various ailments including fractures, rashes, and infections. The renovation was funded in part by $130,000 in grants and the rest covered by Super Thrifty Drugs Canada. The clinic is part of a broader $17 million investment to expand health services across the province. Prairie Mountain Health is actively recruiting staff for the clinic.
  
  
• The Brandon School Division will allocate approximately 65% of its $1,020,000 provincial school nutrition funding to food and beverages, with the remaining 35% used for staffing and equipment. This funding will enhance the division's existing nutrition programs, which provide breakfast, lunch, and snacks to all students. Three schools - George Fitton, Betty Gibson, and Earl Oxford - will receive $360,000 of this total. The division plans to strengthen partnerships with community organizations to support the program’s sustainability.

Last Week In Brandon:

• The Brandon School Division Board of Trustees has renewed its shared services agreement with Christian Heritage School for the 2024-25 academic year. This long-standing arrangement allows the independent school to use resources like transportation and educational facilities provided by the division, which is cost-effective given the school's size. The agreement benefits both parties by optimizing resource use and enhancing teaching opportunities. Students from Christian Heritage will continue to access specialized courses such as industrial arts and home economics at division facilities. The Province reimburses the division for these services based on a per-student formula, which is expected to increase slightly for the upcoming year.
  
  
• Councillor Shaun Cameron expressed frustration over illegal dumping at a west-end recycling depot, which is supposed to handle only recyclables and organic waste. The depot, located at 34th Street and Victoria Avenue, has been misused for household garbage and furniture, contrary to its intended purpose. Brandon's recycling depots are meant for specific items like cardboard, plastics, and yard waste, but contamination from improper dumping is occurring. The City is exploring solutions, including potential site management improvements and enforcement measures, to address the issue. In the meantime, residents are encouraged to report misuse to help manage the problem.
  
  
• The City of Brandon has begun accepting expressions of interest for refurbishing its aging bus fleet, with the goal of extending the lifespan of 14 buses by 8 to 10 years. Due to aging vehicles, Brandon Transit recently reduced service on three routes from twice an hour to once an hour. The City aims to refurbish the buses' interiors, exteriors, and mechanical components to like-new condition over the next three years. Each bus currently averages 55,000 kilometers annually, and the refurbishment is part of the City’s capital plan. Bidding closes on September 23, with a contractor expected to be named shortly after.