The Reeve for the R.M. of Dufferin is optimistic about his community's relationship with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities moving forward. George Gray, R.M. of Dufferin councillors and reps from the Town of Carman took part in a joint meeting with AMM Executive this week.

Gray says he was quite impressed with how up-to-speed the provincial lobby group is on the issues that affect municipalities, for example the continual increase in education tax on farmland.

"There are some exponential raises that are getting quite burdensome for some farmers...and they were up to speed on that, they've already been making overture to the provincial government that maybe the collection of the school tax...should be lifted from the burden of rural residential and farmers on to some other venue."

Also up for discussion was municipal bridge replacements.

"I know there's not a lot of money the government has provided for bridge replacement, but there is some incentive for engineering reports and that sort of thing," explains Gray.

He explains the R.M. of Dufferin currently has seven bridges, of which at least one is compromised at the moment.

Meantime, Carman Mayor Bob Mitchell says the continual deterioration of Highway 13 through town also was discussed at length during the meeting. He explains that the problem however, is that infrastructure is just one issue facing municipalities that isn't necessarily their responsibility.

"So they talked about highways, well it's not our problem because it's a provincial road and bridges are the same. They talked about doctor shortages and those kinds of things...everything that's causing issues seems to be a provincial jurisdiction and so they've got to address that part and get the government to look after their house."

Mitchell explains Council will keep plugging away at the issue with the hope of getting the project on Manitoba Infrastructure's to-do list sooner rather than later, but says they'll have to wait until after the provincial election to find out who the minister in charge will be.

The positive working relationship between the R.M. of Dufferin and Town of Carman was also highlighted at the meeting, with discussions focused on the many projects the two communities have successfully joined forces on.

The AMM executive was also given a tour of the newly renovated Memorial Hall.