Tag Archives: safety

Council Agenda Preview – September 18, 2018

17 Monday Sep 2018

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A very, very light agenda this week as Council heads towards the election. Nothing caught my attention as being a major issue.

Deputations

5.1 – Susan Hrycyna, Executive Director and Brenda Ryan, Board Member Parry Sound Downtown Business Association (PSDBA). Presentation of the Downtown Business Association’s Beautification Plan

5.2 – O.P.P. Staff Sergeant Mike Gordon and Rob Gibson from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Update on the state of Parry Sound Fire 33.

Resolutions and Direction to Staff

9.2.1 – 2019 Council Meeting Dates. Resolution. That pursuant to By-law 2018-6814, Section 3, paragraph 4, Council approves Schedule “A” as attached, which provides the schedule of dates for the 2019 Regular meetings of Council.

9.2.2 – Updated Code of Conduct for Council, Boards and Committees. Direction. That Council direct the Clerk to provide notice of the new draft Code of Conduct on the Town’s website for public review and comment; and To bring back to Council a by-law for deliberation and discussion to the October 16, 2018 Council Meeting.

By-laws

10.1.1 – Rezoning Application – Z/18/7 – 32 Great North Road (Istvan). By-law 2018 – 6863. Being a By-law to amend By-law No. 2004-4653 (The Zoning By-law), as amended, for 32 Great North Road (Istvan)

10.1.2 – Rezoning Application – Z/18/5 – 24 Albert Street (Jackson on behalf of Moore). By-law 2018 – 6857. Read a First and Second time on August 14th, 2018. Being a By-law to amend By-law 2004-4653 (The Zoning By-law), as amended, for 24 Albert Street (Jackson on Behalf of Moore)

10.1.3 – Rezoning Application – Z/18/08 – Church Street (Jackson on behalf of Microsuite Properties Ltd.). By-law 2018-6864. Being a By-law to amend By-law No. 2004-4653 (The Zoning By-law), as amended, for Church Street (Jackson on behalf of Microsuite Properties Ltd.)

10.3.1 – Bobby Orr Hall of Fame Mastercard Sponsorship Agreement. By-law 2018 – 6865 Being a By-Law to authorize the execution of an agreement between Mastercard International Incorporated and the Corporation of the Town of Parry Sound for a Five-Year Event Sponsorship for The Bobby Orr Hall of Fame and Mastercard-Bobby Orr Celebrity Golf Classic (2019-2023).

Council Agenda Preview – August 16, 2018

11 Saturday Aug 2018

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Reviewing the Town of Parry Sound Council Agenda and the attachments provides insights into the issues the Town faces and is wrestling with that don’t surface in most discussions or editorials. This week’s agenda is a reminder of a couple of these issues:

4.5, 10.1.2 – Intensification. The Town of Parry Sound occupies a unique position in the larger region with respect to real estate and services.

Properties represent an especially interesting dilemma. With two trans Canada train lines running through the Town with the accompanying noise and pollution, and no available waterfront property, there is little incentive for the construction of higher end residential properties in Parry Sound. If you want peace and quiet, albeit with a bit of travel for services (and limited high-speed internet) you build your dream home in one of the neighbouring municipalities. As a bonus you pay about half the property taxes that you would in Parry Sound. That leaves Parry Sound property best suited for lower cost, and higher density, development, including subsidized housing. Since there is such a shortage of lower cost rental properties in the area, renters really can’t quibble about the trains. This is neither good nor bad, it reflects market realities. There is little possibility that Parry Sound will ever be subject to gentrification. It’s all about the trains, an issue that no one wants to acknowledge and address. (Yes, there is little that can be done, but sometimes acknowledging a reality can lead to creative solutions.) The issue is that Parry Sound is undergoing the opposite of gentrification, and that’s probably not ideal, certainly not balanced. There are too many landlords, and would be landlords, in Parry Sound who want to cram as many people as possible in the smallest space possible with the lowest construction costs possible. There is nothing wrong with this approach, it makes the best possible use of the available land. This may explain in part why Parry Sound isn’t as pretty as Port Carling or Bracebridge or Huntsville. Why spend money on aesthetics if it’s a rental property? An architect with an inspired design, and a few more windows, only cost more and likely will have higher operating costs. Many of the stately older homes in Town have been renovated to permit multiple apartments, and it’s likely that more and more will be converted. Why would an individual spend the money to buy and update an older home when they can get more for less in one of the neighbouring municipalities?

Both 4.5 (subsidized housing) and 10.1.2 (triplet to quadplex) represent another step in this direction. Like putting on a few pounds, it’s best to acknowledge the change rather than ignore it or pretend our underwear has shrunk. Perhaps adding on a few more pounds is exactly what we wanted, or perhaps not.

9.3.1– Expenses: The most interesting part of this short item is the decision by Council to refinance the Smelter Wharf loan rather than pay it off as planned. I wonder what the thinking was on this? Also notable is the uncollectable amounts related to tax appeals. It seems that the Big Box stores continue to appeal for lower assessments, and the town doesn’t expect to win. From the agenda package (bold highlights are my addition):
“Total tax levy surplus in 2017 amounted $197,319, mainly due to the refinancing of the Smelter Wharf loan ($324k) which was budgeted to be paid off, and a one-time grant from the Province to compensate for the loss of tax revenue on the Lakeland Long-Term Care facility ($173k), offset by higher allowance for anticipated uncollectable tax amounts for the properties under appeals (-$240k)and winter control expenses (-$83k). During the year, staff adjusted the timing of some approved expenditures based on operational needs and resource availability. As a result, some expenditures that would be funded by reserves or reserve funds have been delayed into 2018. The delay will have no impact on the 2018 levy.”

Closed Session

(c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board; (Agreement of Purchase and Sale)

Correspondence

4.1 – Parry Sound Active Transportation Committee. Writing with concerns about the safety of St. Charles crossing on Isabella St for pedestrians and cyclists.

4.3 Parry Sound Anglers and Hunters Sportsman’s Gun Show, August 25th, 2018. Concerning denial of their request for a sandwich board sign near McDonald’s for their gun show which will be held in MacTier this year due to their temporary relocation due to scheduled renovations at BOCC.

4.5 – Parry Sound Affordable Housing Development Corporation. Requesting support in principle in the development of an affordable housing initiative on Waubeek Street in partnership with Parry Sound DSSAB.

Resolutions and Direction to Staff

9.1.1 – Application for Council Approved Sign – 21 William Street. Resolution. That pursuant to section 3.(4) of the Sign By-law, the Chief Building Official is authorized to issue a permit for a ground sign in front of 21 William Street pursuant to the following conditions and variances:
a) The appearance and size of the sign shall be substantially according to the application,
b) The setback for the sign may be as little as 1.0m from the back of the sidewalk, and
c) All other regulations in the sign by-law continue to apply except for those revised by this resolution.

9.3.1 – 2017 Year End Transfers. Resolution. That Council approves the transfers to and from Reserves as summarized in Schedule A attached; That Council approves the transfers to and from Reserve Funds as summarized in Schedule B attached; And That 2017 capital projects which were previously budgeted to be funded from reserves or reserve funds may be completed in 2018.

9.3.2 – 2017 Audited Financial Statements. Resolution. That Council for the Town of Parry Sound does hereby approve the Draft Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2017 as attached in Schedule A.

9.5.1 – Sandwich Board signs for events outside of Parry Sound borders. Direction. That staff be directed to explore the option of delegating approval and terms/conditions for the placement of signs on town property to advertise events outside of the boundaries of the Town of Parry Sound to the CAO.

By-laws

10.1.1 – Declaration of Surplus Lands. By-law 2018 – 6856. Being a By-law to declare Lot 1 of Plan 63 in the Town of Parry Sound surplus to the Town of Parry Sound.

10.1.2 – Rezoning Application – Z/18/5 – 24 Albert Street (Jackson on behalf of Moore). By-law 2018 – 6857. Being a By-law to amend By-law 2004-4653 (The Zoning By-law), as amended, for 24 Albert Street (Jackson on Behalf of Moore).

10.1.3 – Big Sound Marina Agreement One Year Extension with Massasauga Management Co. By-law 2018 – 6858. Being a bylaw to amend By-law No: 2014-6428, the operating agreement between Massasauga Management Co. Inc. and the Town of Parry Sound for operation of Big Sound Marina and the Town Dock, and supersede amending By-law No: 2017-6704 conditional on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada approving the operating agreement and the extension of a head lease between the Town and Department of Fisheries and Oceans or the completion of the divestiture process.

10.4.1 – Establish Bobby Orr Hall of Fame (BOHF) Scholarship Reserve Fund. By-law 2018 – 6859. Being a By-law to provide for the establishment of a reserve fund to be known as the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame Scholarship Reserve Fund.

 

 

Mean Streets of Parry Sound

28 Thursday Sep 2017

Posted by in Parry Sound, Reflections

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“If you touch me I’ll punch you in the face” she screamed at me a half dozen times with her hand curled into a fist and cocked behind her right ear. Little did she realize that touching her was about the last thing I would want to do, for reasons beyond the prospect of being punched.

This went down Wednesday afternoon on the sidewalk on Bowes Street across from the construction going on at the corner of Louisa Street. I was walking on the sidewalk towards the downtown when this e-bike sped up the sidewalk assuming ownership of the right of way. I guess the person operating the e-bike assumed that if they were going fast enough I would jump out of the way. I didn’t, and that created the situation.

Forced to stop at the last moment, or hit me, the e-bike operator was pissed. It didn’t help that the first words out of my mouth was to tell them e-bikes should not be riding on the sidewalk.

What was surprising was who was operating this little red e-bike. It wasn’t some young person with an attitude. It was a woman who seemed to be about 50 years of age, no more than 5’2”, and 100 pounds of anger. And she was threatening to punch me out for making her stop. Actually she was threatening to punch me out if I touched her.

We all do things that ‘break the rules’ in one way or another. We have a choice as to how we respond when confronted with our transgression. Threatening someone with physical violence probably isn’t at the top of the list of suggested responses. It would have been simple enough for the person to explain why they were speeding up the sidewalk, or simply apologize, or simply accept the very short lecture and move on.

Neither of us probably learned a lesson with this confrontation. I’m sure she will continue to ride sidewalks fast enough to scare people out of her way. And I’m sure I’ll continue to not step out of the way and confront these folks. I’m able to move quickly, but there are others who might well get knocked over, and not bounce back up.

And in a short flashback to Hill Street Blues – “Let’s be careful out there”.

Trestle Logic

15 Thursday Jun 2017

Posted by in Parry Sound, Safety, Suggestions, Train

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When entering a parking structure in the Big Smoke have you noticed how there is generally a bar of some sort hanging from a couple of chains that you are required to drive under? There is also a sign that advises you the maximum vehicle height that can safely park in the structure. But, because people don’t like to read signs, or they don’t have a good sense of heights and numbers, the hanging bar acts as a check. If there is a bump as you pass under the bar you know that you have bigger problems ahead. Time to back up and park somewhere else.

So what do you think would happen if a parking garage posted the correct maximum height sign but set the bar a foot higher? Do you think people would look at the sign and think that the bar is set too high? Or would they simply ignore the sign and see if they fit under? If they are driving a vehicle that is a bit higher, perhaps a pickup truck with a camper unit on the back, they would probably inch forward cautiously, and once they passed under the hanging bar, assume they are okay and drive into the garage. Surprise!

This is basically the situation on William Street in Parry Sound and the CN trestle where there have been three ‘decapitations’ complete and partial in the past year. As you approach the trestle there is a frame structure about 15 feet in front of either side of the trestle. The sign on the trestle says that the maximum height is 10’6”. That seems like enough information to warn the truck driver with an 11’ height to take another route. What would you think if I told you that the clearance of the trestle, where the trucks hit the trestle, is greater than 11’, offering drivers a considerable margin of error. But perhaps 10’6” is actually more reasonable. As you look at the photo below you realize that there is a drop down as the truck travels under the trestle but the box of the truck would still be at the higher road level. That would lead to an angle which might actually make it an effective 10’6”, even if it’s actually three-quarters of a foot higher directly under the trestle.

The problem is not just professional drivers not knowing the height of their rig, or not paying attention, it’s also the support frame about 15 feet in front of the trestle. This structure has a clearance of 13’. I can well imagine that a truck driver might cautiously approach this 13’ frame and, discovering that they are able to get under it, assume they can fit under the trestle. It’s a bit of an optical illusion the way the road dips down, suggesting there is more clearance than there is.

The answer it seems is pretty simple. Suspend a bar on chains under the two support frames at 10’6”, much as you see in parking garages. A truck would pretty quickly figure out that they weren’t going to fit if they heard a thump well before they ventured forward and tore the top off their trailer.

We have had three such incidents just this year. You would think that CN would have figured it out by now that something needs to be done.

Has the Town received a formal report from CN attesting to the integrity of the trestle? Three dings in the past year and many more over the past few decades could mean there is unrecognized structural damage. But, it seems the railways always find it cheaper to apologize and make repairs after the fact than practice prevention.

 

Trains, Trains, Trains

11 Sunday Dec 2016

Posted by in Parry Sound, Train

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I have been rather quiet for the past few months on the issue of trains and how they impact Parry Sound. I don’t expect that will change for the foreseeable future. The railways are what they are, and they do whatever they want. I’m not ready to get over it, but I currently don’t have much to offer.

But, good news for those of you who do follow trains and are interested in their impact on local communities, Trainjane is back again at railandreason.com. This is a blog site that offers considerable information and insight on issues concerning the railways in Canada. They have been away for the last two years but have just announced their return. I highly recommend the site as a source of national information regarding rail activity.

In one of their first posts since returning they have provided a link to the document:

Guidelines for New Development in Proximity to Railway Operations

It’s an interesting read that highlights the more important considerations for new construction along railway corridors. Parry Sound certainly needs to understand and take note of the report’s recommendations.

guidelines-for-new-development-in-proximity-to-railway-operations

 

 

Walking the Dog

20 Tuesday Sep 2016

Posted by in Boating/Recreation, Parry Sound, Safety, Suggestions

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Well, this is a new one for me. I have seen people take their dogs out on a leash and walk with them. I have seen people take their dogs out on a run with them. I have seen people do both, with their dogs off leash. I have seen people ride their bikes with their dog or dogs both on and off leash. I have seen people take their dogs for a run while they drove beside them on a deserted country road. And just a few days ago I saw someone driving their ATV with the dog running alongside them. But, last night I saw something new and unexpected.

Taking their dogs, three of them, for a walk or hike or swim, whatever you want to call it, while boating.

We were out on the North Shore Rugged Trail yesterday evening when I saw a tin boat heading out along the trail. I could hear a dog on the boat start to whine as the boat went past Thunder Creek. Continuing along the trail, heading north past Thunder Creek and reaching Survey Monument along the trail, I saw what was up. Three large dogs, two German Shepherd type dogs and one Husky, had been let loose to run back along the trail, while their owner followed offshore in the tin boat.

Two of the dogs came running up at us barking and the dog owner started shouting at them. The third dog came along quietly a few seconds later. Fortunately, it all passed without incident.

What kind of inconsiderate idiot lets three dogs loose on a public trail? Oh, I guess the inconsiderate idiot type. Dogs in packs are unpredictable. And the owner is not there to offer some sort of supervision.

I have heard it all. “Oh, don’t worry they are friendly.” “They bark but don’t bite.” “Oh, it seems they don’t like you.”

I’m not dog-phobic. I grew up with German Shepherds, Bouviers, Rottweilers, and Giant Schnauzers before they became trendy. I have come to understand that unsupervised dogs are unpredictable, especially in groups.

The North Shore Rugged Trail is a public area that needs to be treated with respect and consideration. I have on several occasions been confronted by dogs, alone or in a ‘pack’, that have been let loose to run with their owners following far behind. It turns a pleasant walk into a confrontation with dogs and owners. The owners typically won’t back down and try to blame me for the behaviour of their dogs. At least I don’t have a dog on a lead. I would be more worried about my dog.

On the positive, a few minutes later we came across a couple hiking the trail with their dog on a lead.

Old man, get some exercise while pumping a little less carbon into the atmosphere; walk, don’t ‘boat’ your dogs, preferably on leads.

Shooting Me a Dirty Look from the Safety of His Boat

apc_0017

TOPS 2016 Budget Bites – Part 4

23 Saturday Jan 2016

Posted by in Budget/Financial, Parry Sound, Reflections, Town Council

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The Emergency and Protective Services Department includes Fire, By-Law and Parking Services. In total this department accounts for almost $1.2 million in expenses that add a little less than $1.1 million to the 2016 Levy.

(Reminder: the final budget meeting is this Tuesday, the 26th, starting at 5:30 PM.)

Fire Department

The Fire Department costs are reasonably straightforward in terms of expenses. Although this service relies heavily on equipment, trucks, fire station and gear, the largest part of the expenses, about two-thirds is related to personnel. Volunteer firefighters are compensated for their time and efforts to the tune of about $250,000 annually. By way of perspective, the annual Fire Department costs are about the same as snow removal or parks management.

FD 2016 Fire

 

By-Law Enforcement

In a similar manner, the greatest expense related to By-Law Enforcement is personnel costs. Services provided to other municipalities, largely parking enforcement (Hmm, are they planning on free parking? I hope not!), reduces total costs by about $32,500.

Fire 2016 By-Law

 

Parking Services

I have reviewed at length in other posts the issues revolving around Parking and Free Parking. In terms of dollars, while Parking amounted to a net $12,000 positive to the levy as recently as 2014, in 2016 it is forecast to be a $137,000 expense. The $35,5000 in revenue is probably related to special parking permits that would permit the holders to park for longer periods than permitted by Free Parking.

Fire 2016 Parking

Fluoridation Redux

07 Wednesday Oct 2015

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The fluoridation issue came to the floor of last night’s council meeting and I’m sure the local media will offer a nice summary of the discussion. I ended up doing an impromptu deputation to balance out the public opinion and offer a few thoughts on some of the issues being raised. In thinking about it a little bit more there are some points that I perhaps might have made, or are perhaps worthy of consideration.

1) We have become a very selfish society. It’s all about ‘me’. How do things impact me, and me alone. It’s not a question of what is best for me and my neighbours and my fellow citizens, and my fellow humans, and our environment and our earth. It’s about ‘me’ and what pleases or frightens me. I think about the sacrifices that our parents made to give us what we have. Can you think about a better time in the history of the world to live? Our lifespans are not only longer than ever, but we live in better health for a much larger part of this longer life. Yet we bitch and moan about how the little things are so unfair. Want to go back to the pre-fluoridation years of 1939/45 for something to complain about? Or how about 1918 and the Spanish Flu that killed more than 50 million people? Or how about the Black Plague of 1346-1353? We are largely past these types of pandemics because of public health initiatives. But when public health officials suggest that fluoridation of public water is a benefit, some disagree and resent the imposition of broad public health initiatives. Where would we be without their advice?

There is a simple answer don’t swallow. Swish it around in your mouth to get the dental benefits and then spit it out, and reach for a glass of purchased unfluoridated water and then swallow. Or even cheaper, make friends with a neighbour in our surrounding communities and just bum some water. You actually don’t drink as much as you think. And evidence suggests that what you drink doesn’t hurt you. Unless of course you think it does, and then by golly it does. It’s called the placebo effect and it’s more powerful than most medications.

2 The issue of how and where the sodium fluorosilicate is sourced is a bogus issue. It doesn’t depend where it is sourced, but rather is it sufficiently pure to not introduce toxic ingredients. It doesn’t. As I mentioned last night some of the more commonly used medications come from sources you would rather not know about. Premarin – from the urine of pregnant mares, and the increasingly common use of fecal transplant for patients with C. difficile, where you take the feces (poop) of a close family member, encapsulate it, and ask the patient to take it orally to re-establish the intestinal flora. And not mentioned but an interesting piece of trivia. The natural red dye used in food products and lipstick is sourced from crushed Cochineal bugs. Don’t be worried about where a chemical or ingredient is sourced, be concerned as to whether the company is doing the proscribed testing and quality control.

3) Speaking loudly and forcefully doesn’t make your argument any stronger.

4) The issue of environmental contamination was raised in a couple of deputations. That’s an issue we should all be concerned about, but probably doesn’t apply here. Water naturally has fluoride in it. I understand the fluoride levels in the groundwater in the area surrounding Parry Sound is higher than normal with levels that might be in excess of 1.5 mg / litre. That may explain why one area resident has no cavities despite not benefiting from fluoridated water as a child, or they could be a conscientious brusher, or they could have good genetics. The Town sources its water from Georgian Bay which would not have the same benefits of this enriched natural fluoride source. (See the map below and this Wikipedia article for the source of this map.)

Returning to the issue of environmental contamination I would suggest people worry more about what we flush down the toilets in our pee and poop. The pharmaceuticals we take, partially metabolize, and then excrete have been shown to have a profound impact on amphibians. How do we solve that problem? And what about the people who like to wash surfactants down the drain, and the plastic microparticles found in so many consumer goods? Fluoride is in fact a natural ingredient that is widely found in nature and many water sources.

5) The issue of fluoride and calcium. They are not nearly the same nor do they play the same role in animal physiology. Calcium behaves as a doubly charged cation; fluoride acts a singly charged anion. Calcium has characteristics more like Beryllium, Magnesium, Strontium and Barium than Fluorine. Fluorine behaves more like Chlorine, Bromine and Iodine. Fluoride does not replace calcium. Calcium and fluoride can react to form CaF2, which is largely insoluble.

6) Let’s talk about folic acid supplementation. This is a synthetic chemical that is added to most packaged foods we buy. Its purpose? To prevent congenital malformation and neural tube defects in the children of women who are pregnant. It is important to be taken before conception. So we pretty much put it into all packaged grain based foods, think enriched wheat flour among other foods. So we are all ingesting folic acid to benefit people who aren’t ‘me’. Who made that decision? Don’t we have rights? Actually I can handle it. I have come to realize it’s not always about ‘me’. Can you handle it?

7) Providing free dental services to those who may not be able to afford it. A nice idea but it only works if people take advantage of it. How many people now suffer from debilitating and expensive chronic disease that could have been avoided had they regularly visited a physician when younger? And medical care has been free for decades.

It’s really not a significant sacrifice for the ‘older folks’ in Town to think a little more generously and provide the benefit of fluoridation to those who can most benefit from it. Buy the water you ingest if you think it makes a difference and help those who can benefit from fluoridation. And be cautious about sourcing water from your neighbours with a well. Not only should you worry about E. coli and coliform, but you may actually be getting an even higher dose of fluoride than what is provided by the public water system in Parry Sound. But it will be all natural.

Sometimes it’s not always about “me, me, me’. Sometimes it’s about ‘others, others, others’, or society and the planet as a whole. Our parents came to understand this and the occasional need for personal sacrifice.

Check out the regions of ‘blue’. We are in one of them.

Groundwater Fluoride - Wikipedia

Geographical areas associated with groundwater having over 1.5 mg/L of naturally occurring fluoride, which is above recommended levels.

Parry Sound 2016 Budget – Suggestion #5

28 Monday Sep 2015

Posted by in Budget/Financial, Parry Sound, Suggestions

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A new sign for the North Shore Rugged Trail. This one is getting pretty tired and doesn’t reflect well on the Town, or the trail. I would appreciate it made obvious that dogs should be on leads. Actually I really don’t care if they are on leads, I just want them to be under control. People who walk with their dogs on leads have told me it’s a problem when these ‘dogs on the loose’ come up and harass their pets, especially when they are running in a ‘pack’. And of course the owners insist their dogs are permitted to be off lead. If you look closely you can see someone has tried to ‘peel’ the matter of leads from the sign. Hey if it isn’t posted, or isn’t legible, they can’t be held responsible, can they?

Redwood1890-20150924-IMG_0299

 

Parry Sound 2016 Budget – Suggestion #4

26 Saturday Sep 2015

Posted by in Budget/Financial, Parry Sound, Suggestions

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Redwood1890-20150924-IMG_0292

Repair/resurfacing of this stretch of Louisa Street. We know it’s a problem, note the rough road sign that actually means what it indicates. This is a stretch of road that is ideal for cyclists leaving town to avoid riding up Bowes Street. But this stretch, especially when heading downhill, is treacherous. It’s about 100 metres long, and perhaps can be budgeted for resurfacing in 2016 when we have a contractor in Town working on a bigger project.