Residents upset over proposed new fencing

Times Reporter

 

Residents of Green Meadows gathered in the chamber offices during the regular town council meeting on July 6. 

Mandy Gillespie spoke on behalf of the residents, who wanted to ask council to reconsider replacing the current wooden fence with a post and cable system. 

“It makes it unsafe for our children, by not placing a barrier between them and the busy East Lake Road. Automobiles that travel along the East Lake Road don’t currently have the mindset to be alert to looking for our children running out onto the busy roadway, there are pathways that go through, but they are crosswalks,” said Gillespie.

“Most of the children that are on our side, are crossing across East Lake to get to any of the schools that are on the opposite side. We’re concerned that the entire street with a pole and cable will turn into a giant crosswalk.”

She continued on to say that a post and cable system will reduce property values, and take away from the residents’ privacy by allowing more visibility into their backyards. 

The existing fence is over 10 years old, is covered in graffiti and has fallen into a state of disrepair.  The cost to replace the fence would be approximately $45,000, whereas a post and cable system would cost just over $3,500. Out of the 35 houses directly affected, only 14 of them do not have a fence.

“I also have 264 signatures from our petition that has circulated around town the last two weeks,” said Gillespie. 

Numerous letters have also been sent to council, with arguments for, or against, the possible new fencing system. 

“There were a couple of reasons that I didn’t necessarily agree with, one was the fence that’s there now is a far better theft, or vandalism deterrent,” said Councillor Pat Fule.

“My disagreement with that is basically that if the post and cable fence is there it’s a lot more visible…I don’t necessarily see the solid wood fence preventing theft or vandalism, in fact I think the solid fence could actually encourage that because they are hidden from one whole side of the road.” 

Fule said the best argument brought up was the fact that kids will be able to cross the road anywhere they want if a post and cable system is put in. 

“To me, that fence is an eyesore and the sooner we get it out of there the better it’s going to be for you guys,” said Councillor Rocky Blokland, commenting on the possible decreasing of property values.

Councillor Bob Sobol said the laneway is a concern for him, and that kids shouldn’t be playing there to begin with because it gives the kids a false sense of security. 

“I was a strong supporter of the fence and the replacement of the fence at the beginning, and to me it’s not as much the money issue, if we have to find $50,000 to make something safer, than I’ll go to bat for it,” said Sobol. 

“I’m having a hard time with this one because the problem is not that fence, the problem I think is the laneway, and no matter which way we go, we need those yards fenced. Somehow we have to get them fenced and keep those kids out of the laneway.”

Mayor Steve Grajczyk said they are torn, and obviously life and limb come first, but he would like developers to never put that type of fencing in the future. 

“I would love to protect everybody but there’s just things we can’t do,” said Grajczyk. 

Fule made a motion to replace the fence on the south side of East Lake Road with a similar style and sized wooden fence. An amendment was made to make the fence plastic, which would last longer. The motion was defeated.