Residents outraged over no-parking signs

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

There was an array of confusion and lack of information in the council chamber last week when a concerned citizen acknowledged the no-parking sign implementation in front of Wheatland Trail – signs which were installed without any notice to the residents and seemingly without council’s knowledge.
Strathmore resident Tony Silva was accompanied by many of his neighbours at the regular council meeting on May 4, when he addressed the issue with council regarding the elimination of parking spaces in the 100 block of Wheatland Trail and the safety concerns surrounding the action.
Yet while Silva said he spoke with Alberta Transportation and was told the request for the signs was made from the Town of Strathmore, council remained perplexed stating the issue never came before council and the decision by council to construct the signs had therefore not been made. Nonetheless, the residents in the area wanted council to take action.
“We had no notification and then they put no-parking or no-stopping signs along the front of the residences, and there’s a few of us here today and I have signatures of everybody that couldn’t make it,” said Silva, who spoke on behalf of the residents on the 100 block of Wheatland Trail.
“I find we’ve been parking there for more than 55 years and for you guys to be able to just put up no parking, when we’ve been parking there for so long and leaving us with no place for our guests, is not fair. I don’t think it’s right and I want the signs removed.”
According to Silva, the enforcement of no parking would free up a lane that could potentially lead to greater speeds as vehicles approach the school zone. Furthermore, without a nearby crosswalk, family members and guests visiting are forced to park further away and cross four laneways, while driveways become barricaded with snow in the wintertime contributing to further loss of parking spaces. While council’s hands were tied without detailed information around the circumstances and authorization regarding the signs, some councillors were adamant about conducting an investigation.
“Simply put I would like to go back to transportation,” said Councillor Steve Grajczyk. “I don’t think council was given a lot of warning either – a lot of input as to what should happen there – and I think we should go back to transportation and review this whole issue. I think we have to have a long discussion with Alberta Transportation and see what can be done about this whole issue.”
Councillor Denise Peterson echoed Councillor Gracjzyk, and added that she was not aware of the situation prior to that meeting’s council package.
Councillor Pat Fule mentioned a past E-mail that informed of a Sunset Haven resident who phoned Alberta Transportation with questions about parking on Wheatland Trail – or Highway 817. He continued, stating that Alberta Transportation then contacted former Chief Administrative Officer Dwight Stanford and Operations Manager at Alberta Transportation Fred Lee, upon which the town was then directed to put up the signs. Fule emphasized that the town council had not made a decision about this issue however. Peace Officer Teresa Fuchs also provided some clarity about the situation when she said Town staff met with Alberta Transportation following numerous complaints about parking in the area.
“Back in November we received a few complaints in regards to parking in front of the residences there,” said Fuchs.
“Because the highway goes through town, we have the rights to put up the signs if we wanted to, so we did have a discussion and then we decided at the time, due to safety reasons, we’d put up no-parking signs. I hope that helps a little bit, but … I don’t have access to the e-mails that were actually sent back and forth.”
Council directed administration to provide further background information for a better understanding, and for the information to be brought back to council before moving ahead with a decision.