Staff
Town executive committees have had a chance to review various submissions made during the strategic planning process last month, and now have issued several recommendations in response to some of those requests.
Resident Stan Sockolotuk had asked council to lobby senior government for funds to reinstate a local bus service since many people have a problem finding available transportation when travel to Winnipeg or Thunder Bay for medical reasons is necessary.
After discussing the matter, the Administration and Finance executive committee recommended that council pursue the lack of available bus service for residents with the province after the provincial election this fall.
Sockolotuk also asked if the town could change the route of transport trucks from Scott Street to Second Street East, as well as consider whether there could be an additional crossing to service the north end of the community.
The Operations and Facilities executive committee discussed the matter, and said there are three reasons why the truck route can’t be changed:
•Scott Street is designated as a “Connecting Link” highway, which is part of the provincial highway system, and that status can’t be easily transferred to Second Street;
•Second Street is not designed to support large truck loads and the town is not in a position to upgrade the road at this time; and
•Second Street is considered a residential roadway.
In regards to the additional crossing to the north end, the committee explained that in October, 1958, a Board of Transport Order was issued whereby the Canadian National Railway pay for the construction of the Portage Avenue underpass but the town would be responsible for all future maintenance costs.
Under the same order, the Victoria Avenue and Armit Avenue level crossings were closed.
During the preliminary re-design of the Portage Avenue underpass in recent years, the town’s consultant was asked to consider an overpass structure at the same location as the underpass.
The findings indicated that is was cost-prohibitive to install an overpass structure given all costs would be the responsibility of the town.
Meanwhile, resident John Steinke had asked council to review its spring clean-up along the waterfront, feeling the current method simply disperses debris (including dog feces) into the air, and to review the town’s method of cleaning debris out of drainage ditches.
In regards to the spring clean-up, the Operations and Facilities executive committee responded that the present method has been utilized for several years, and AbitbiBowater Canada pays for this initial clean-up.
The town has not received any complaints about the dust before Steinke’s letter. But going forward, the Operations and Facilities division will try to complete the clean-up work when the wind is blowing from north to south and when barks and sticks are moist.
In regards to the cleaning of ditches, the Operations and Facilities division will review its method of cleaning debris out of the drainage ditches prior to 2012 and ensure this task is completed in a cost-effective manner.
For his part, Gerald Martin asked that the alley/laneway off McKenzie Avenue, by the Ukrainian Hall, be upgraded and designated as a street and marked as a fire lane.
The Operations and Facilities executive committee has recommended the following:
•that additional signage be installed to ensure that all property owners utilizing the laneway are aware that this lane is a fire route, and should remain clear at all times as it is the only vehicle access route to 806, 808, and 812 Portage Ave.;
•that the town will continue to maintain this granular back lane as in the past;
•that the town has no record this back laneway was designated as a street; and
•that at this time, the town is not in a position to asphalt this back laneway as the available capital funding will be utilized on high-priority roadways.
