麻豆视频

The City of Estevan has decided that a petition to close the pedestrian walkways in the Pleasantdale Subdivision is insufficient. However, they will work with residents in the area to address their concerns.

The petition, which was started by Howard Horrocks of Thorn Crescent, was presented at the May 16 regular meeting of city council. In his report to the members of council, city clerk Lyndon Stachoski said based on the criteria set out in the Cities Act, the petition, as presented, was insufficient and that council was not required to take any notice of it.

But Stachoski was also quick to point out that because it did deliver a strong message from residents, council should give the suggestions serious consideration.

In his petition, Horrocks pointed out he is making the request because of vandalism to properties adjacent to the pathways. He also mentions there have been a number of motor vehicles using the walkways.

Councillor Brian Johnson, who received the petition, said 80 Estevan residents who live in and around the walkways signed the document. He said the issue is not the school children who use the walkways to get to and from school, it is people later in the evening who are causing the headaches.

"It's damages that are happening after 10:30 or midnight where you might get young teenagers, or people with nothing better to do than inflict damage on the vehicles or fences or there was even a power pole that had tagging on it," said Johnson.

"These small incidents or act of malicious damage to properties start with egg throwing and painting and it festers and evolves as a problem throughout the city. This has been brought to our attention, put us on notice, that there is problems out there. All these residents have signed and agreed with Mr. Horrocks, who has actually drawn up this very good petition, that we need to do some maintenance over there."

Johnson said he would like to see the City take a closer look at the pathways in Pleasantdale. He noted on the ones he walked, there was a need for posts which would prevent cars from driving on the pathways.

"This is something that has been brought to our attention and we need to do some maintenance over there. I think that is what these residents are calling for. There is a lot of residents over there that feel, strongly, on the other side of this that they don't want the pathways closed down," Johnson said.

"Fences are getting damaged because kids want to wreck or kick these fences. A lot of the people that live in these homes are just fed up."

Although the idea of closing the pathways did not seem to sit well with council, a number of members suggested they would like to see leisure services take a look at the areas in question and see what improvements can be made. One suggestion was the installation of wooden bollards to prevent vehicles from using the pathways.

In his report, Stachoski also urged Estevan residents who are thinking of starting a petition to get in touch with him about how to properly word the documents so they comply with the Saskatchewan Cities Act.

It was also suggested by a member of council that if residents feel strongly enough about an issue that they want to start a petition, they should approach the City to see if the two sides can work together to solve whatever the problem might be.