Road expansion considered

Times Contributor     

 

For the last couple of years there has been talk about widening two intersections in the town so that people turning may do so easier. This year there was an expansion done at the north side of Westmount school. Now two vehicles can approach 817, and one will be able to turn north and the other south, without causing backups like had previously been seen. 

The intersection by Super 8, Westlake Road, is still a problem. Administration has looked into the costs of adding the expansion and have determined it would cost approximately $48,000 to add in a turning lane. 

“I have been in a traffic jam there and if you have any kind of a big truck and you want to turn right you can’t so traffic backs up past the entrance to the strip mall where the Roadhouse restaurant is so I think the right turn widening could do a lot, there’ a lot of big trucks in that area too,” said Councillor Pat Fule.

“As far as if we do it this year and find it money for it, or next council puts it on the 2014 budget, I think it should be done fairly soon because it is a busy intersection.”

A motion was made to recommend the project for the 2014 budget.  

 

Asphalt and concrete milling 

The town has been collecting asphalt from roadways and concrete materials at a yard south of the recycle yard. In the 2013 budget there is an operating budget of $110,000 for the milling of these materials, but with an estimated 25,000 tonnes in the pile to be milled, there were concerns the budget would not be enough and an increase was requested. 

At this time council has chosen to mill only up to the original budget. Tenders had gone out previously, and so a motion was made by Councillor Bob Sobol to award the project to Fish Creek Excavating at a rate of $6.95 per tonne. Fish Creek will be contacted and told that the Town is milling to a tonnage that reflects the budget of $110,000. The company may then retract their bid if they chose to do so due to the change in the tender. 

 

Chamber of Commerce update 

Councillor Dave Hamilton said there have been questions in regards to the Chamber of Commerce and he wanted to clear a few things up for council. Presently there is a bank balance of $10,726 in the account and 113 paid members for 2013. The Chamber is constantly approaching new businesses to join. They have also set up a parade committee, and there is a new receptionist/secretary that is at the office three days a week, manning the front desk and answering questions.  

 

Council questions

Councillor Rocky Blokland read a statement he had prepared about concerns regarding the Chamber; he feels that the one in Strathmore is dysfunctional and basically non-existent. 

He wanted to know where they are and why they are not helping keep things alive and thriving downtown. After attending a Downtown Beautification Conference a number of ideas were presented about what other communities have been doing to highlight and promote their downtowns. 

He would like to get a few answers about what can and will be done. Councillor Dave Hamilton said that there are some activities afoot that will hopefully affect downtown, but because they are in the planning stages he is not able to discuss them at this point. He said he would take Blokland’s concerns to the Chamber to find out answers to some of his questions.