Council opts to keep crossing guards

Council voted Monday night against a report stating the town should stop providing crossing guards for area schools.
The Planning and Development executive committee had reviewed the issue of renewing an agreement with Lakeland Personnel beyond Dec. 31 and decided the town not only should not renew the agreement, but also cease and discontinue the practice of provision of school crossing guards.
“At present, the provision of school crossing guards is only at one location, that being the intersection at Scott Street and Crowe Avenue for students attending Robert Moore School,” Planning and Development superintendent Rick Hallam noted in a report.
“The issue of provision of school crossing guards at various other locations serving other schools has also been raised and to that end, the Planning and Development executive committee, along with staff and the Traffic Safety Committee, have researched and reviewed not only this issue, but the continuance of the practice of such a provision in general,” he added.
“The Planning and Development executive committee [is] of the opinion that the lead role and responsibility for the safe passage of children to area schools should be primarily that of the parents,” wrote Hallam.
“I won’t be voting vote for the report,” Coun. Tannis Drysdale said before the vote. “I’m just uncomfortable with this particular decision.
“I understand where you’re coming from,” she remarked, referring to the Planning and Development executive committee. “We’ve not provided crossing guards in all situations that might be potentially dangerous.
“But we’re dealing with some young children, and a very busy street with pulp trucks on it.”
“Children’s safety should be the only issue here we should be considering,” echoed Coun. Struchan Gilson.
Coun. Wiedenhoeft noted the Planning and Development executive committee felt continuing the practice of using crossing guards would have to involve both school boards and parents, and there seemed to be little interest from either.
And the town can’t afford to do it alone if there’s a demand for more crossing guards.
“The recommendation from Planning and Development is that if we are going to provide crossing guards, we should provide crossing guards everywhere they’re needed,” said Coun. Wiedenhoeft.
“I’m thinking four in the east, two in the west, and that’s not even thinking of the north end. Potentially, we’re looking at $120,000-150,000 for crossing guards,” he remarked.
Coun. Wiedenhoeft noted that if the town was to do away with crossing guards, however, an alternative like more stops signs should be considered “so we have places where the children can cross safely.”
The report and its recommendations was defeated 4-2, with Mayor Dan Onichuk and Couns. Roy Avis, Gilson, and Drysdale voting against it. Couns. Wiedenhoeft and Neil Kabel were in favour of it.
Coun. Todd Hamilton, who owns Lakeland Personnel, declared a conflict of interest.