Councillors in Neepawa are hoping to make their stance clear, when it comes to the province's Dutch elm disease management program. They're one of many of the province's municipalities speaking out against the Manitoba government's decision to decrease funding for the removal of diseased trees. The latest agreement outlined the province would provide just $181.32 per tree removed to the municipal governments, as well as $2,000 for administration. This reduction has led to many municipal governments, as well as the Association of Manitoba Municipalities calling on the provincial government to reinstate the funding provided in the past.

Neepawa's councillors took it a step further at Tuesday's meeting, opting to vote against the agreement entirely. Mayor Adrian de Groot describes the measure as a 'protest vote' and hopes the message is heard loud and clear by the provincial officials.

"I was a bit surprised that it was overwhelmingly not supported. I personally thought we should continue to discuss it, but council determined we were not going to apply. Hopefully that sends a message, and shows them we want to talk about this."

He says only having just over $180 per tree provided would lead to a major burden on tax payers, citing a recent case where a tree cost thousands of dollars to remove.

"I don't know anyone who can cut down a tree for $180, that's just dreaming. We just had a huge cottonwood tree cut down in an area where we had to use trucks and it cost us in excess of $10,000. To think this covers the cost, or comes anywhere close to covering the cost is rather ludicrous."

While much of the protest surrounding the program's changes have focused on the downloading of services onto municipal governments, de Groot says their concerns don't end their. He says councillors are questioning the effectiveness of the program, given the way the province runs it.

"It's not only the downloading, it's also the way the province is managing it throughout the province. Some municipalities, the rural municipalities, are not part of the program. So, really, what are we doing? Are we trying to eradicate the disease or are we simply bandaging it?"

De Groot says their future action for Dutch elm disease management is still up for debate, noting the town also conducts it's own preventative spraying program. He says they'll discuss their work for disease management when they begin discussions surrounding the 2016 budget.