RM of St. Francois Xavier

HIGH SPEED INTERNET IS COMING TO ST. FRANCOIS XAVIER!! Reeve and Council would like to inform the residents of St. Francois Xavier that High Speed Internet is coming to every home, farm and business in the municipality. With lots of planning and consultation Council has come up with a fibre optic internet project that will suit everyone's needs. The speed of the internet has been an issue for rural Manitoba for some time, this project will bring consistent high speed interne...t service to everyone in the municipality. Council of St. Francois Xavier is proud to have achieved this for every resident, farm and business. - Options include Phone Service with unlimited calling anywhere in North America while keeping your current phone number. - Wi-Fi modems will be available for rental at a nominal cost. Tenders were advertised mid-February and awarded mid-March. Once final discussions with the successful bidders take place, construction is expected to commence late April or beginning of May. - The project consists of a new 1040 sq. ft. building to house the servers for internet, with an additional room for individuals who would like to rent data space. - The conduit will be trenched or directional drilled depending on the area. - The project is anticipated to take 6 - 7 months. - Anyone wanting to sign up will be required to sign service agreements, these forms will be mailed out when they become available. This is a very exciting time for the R.M. of St. Francois Xavier to own its own fibre internet entity. It will bring beneficial annual revenue which can be invested back into the community. Anyone that would like information on this project can contact their Councillor, the municipal office or continue to check the municipal website for updated information. Let's get connected and make this work together! Due to the covid-19 and the unknown length of the pandemic, this project could be delayed.

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of our communities, which includes collection and sorting staff, please do not put medical waste into your blue bins. This includes items such as facial tissue, medical masks, gloves, and disinfecting wipes.

SUMMER JOB POSTING The RM of St. François Xavier has applied for funding through the Green Team Program to hire students to work for the summer months (July to August) to perform outdoor maintenance around the Municipal Office, Municipal Shop and throughout the village area. Applicants must be 16 to 24 years of age and should possess a valid Manitoba drivers’ license.... If you are interested in applying, please send your resume to: RM of St. François Xavier 1060 Hwy. 26 St. François Xavier, MB R4L 1A5 Email: [email protected] Fax: 204-864-2390 If you have any questions, please call the Municipal Office at 864-2092. Deadline is Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at Noon *positions are dependant upon the approval of the RM’s application for funding*

COVID 19 UPDATE - March 18, 2020 The RM of St. Francois Xavier is monitoring the NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) situation and is in contact with provincial health agencies to ensure we have up-to-date information to assist in dealing with this pandemic. The health and safety of the public and our employees is our top priority.... Staff and council are taking a proactive approach to managing COVID-19 and have implemented a number of measures to help reduce the risk of spreading the virus and related infections. In addition to washing your hands, it is recommended that we all practice social distancing by avoiding mass public gatherings and staying a safe distance from others, approximately two metres or six feet. The RM of St. Francois Xavier is taking the following steps: 1.All municipal buildings are CLOSED to the public until further notice. 2.Inquiries can be made by phone or email: Telephone: (204) 864-2092 Email: [email protected] Permit inquiries:Telephone: (204) 781-9024 Email: [email protected] 3.Please make any payments on-line whenever possible and/or use the drop box at the front door of the administration building. 4.Public Works Department will operate as normal but will not provide any services inside any buildings. In the event of a plumbing emergency the RM will shut off supply valves located at the property line. Water meter readings will be conducted as usual at the end of the month. Readings are collected remotely so access to property is not required. 5.St. Francois Xavier Fire Department will operate as usual but will take extra precautions when dealing with the public. 6. At this time the Landfill will continue to run as usual. 7.At this time Council meetings will continue as scheduled. 8.Public Hearings that are scheduled will continue. Any objectors are requested to file objections in writing. We will continue to be proactive in our efforts to minimize risk and reduce the potential for spreading the COVID-19 virus and ensure our staff are able to maintain essential municipal services We encourage residents to visit www.gov.mb.ca/health/coronavirus/ or call Health LinksInfo Santé at 204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257 (toll-free) for further information. We will continue to provide information and updates as they become available.

ST. FRANOIS XAVIER NEEDS YOUR HELP!! Volunteers are needed for the St. François Xavier Emergency Management Team to help provide a prompt and coordinated response in the event of any emergency or disaster. The Emergency Management Team is activated in anticipation of, or as a result of an emergency situation. The goal is to prevent the loss of life, limit damage to property and the environment, as well as to help restore essential services. ... Our Municipal Emergency Coordinator, Liz Pasieczka is looking to add to our team and compile a list of volunteers/businesses they can contact in an emergency situation. While this is not a huge commitment every volunteer we have is another set of hands we can rely on in an emergency. The Emergency Management Team typically meets three to four times a year for training, attending workshops and to discuss the emergency plan. If this is something you would be interested in, or for more information, please contact: Liz Pasieczka at [email protected] or call (204) 792-0644