The RM of Cartier's Council has a week to make a decision on moving forward with rural water line expansion near St. Eustache. The municipality was approved for $1.5 million from the federal government, and $750,000 from the province, covering a total of 75 per cent of the project, which would see the water lines extended to 44 homes north west of St. Eustache. A public hearing on the matter was held last night, and Reeve Dale Fossay says they had a majority of the homeowners attend. 

Reeve Dale Fossay

"It was a good turnout of folks. Probably 30 of the 44 represented. It was generally a good response, favourable. There were some folks to expressed some concerns, and we'll be looking to address those."

The concerns over the work varied between those with aged homes they weren't planning on maintaining into the future, those who were happy with their current well water, and those who were unsure about the cost of the project. Fossay says the only three or four concerns were formally submitted, something Council was pleased with as the municipality would only need to cover 25 per cent of the cost, or $750,000 of the work thanks to the federal and provincial funding.

The future of the project will be put to a vote at a special meeting to be held Friday. Fossay notes if they decide to move ahead, they'll need to start moving the process forward given the tight deadlines from the federal government.

"The federal requirements are that the project is to be completed by March of 2018. Of course, with the last couple of months being winter it's a project for 2017."

If Council chooses to support the project at Friday's meeting, they'll then submit a request to the Manitoba Water Services Board to begin the tendering process.