By Nigel Maxwell

Midtown residents voice frustration over petition process

Nov 23, 2017 | 11:00 AM

Emotions are spilling over in Prince Albert’s midtown area over a decision made by city council on garbage bins.

During their Nov. 20 meeting, council unanimously decided a block-wide petition garnering majority support was needed before community bins would be replaced.

Shauna Baglole lives in the 400 blook of 12th St. E.  She said the petition is in stark contrast to what they were told during a previous council meeting in October.

“At the meeting we attended before, I understood it as a gradual implementation throughout midtown. There was a particular councillor who said it was going to happen, and now this has changed to being a petition,” she said.

Baglole is among the residents who have already acquired a roll out bin. She said she feels as if a big weight has been lifted off her shoulders.

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“I never felt safe going out any part of the day. I never went out to my back alley at night ever because there were just too many altercations out there amongst other individuals,” she said.

Some residents paNOW reached out for comment did not want to have their names published out of fear of ill-treatment.

One woman said the garbage bin debate is pitting neighbours against neighbours.

“There is a divide between those who want the convenience and those who are sick of cleaning the mess. The city needs to make a decision and make a change. I feel that people will accept the added responsibility of the roll out bins over time. But those of us cleaning this dump will never accept having these cesspools of filth on our properties,” she said.

Ward 3 councillor Evert Botha has been very vocal during the debate.  He told paNOW he too was not happy with the petition process.

“Everything was on track and then when this came back to council, I was a little bit disappointed with the petition being added… bottom line is we have more bins coming,” he said.

The city’s Utility and Sanitation budget allocated $50,000 to the garbage bin replacement program. As of Thursday, 102 bins had been upgraded to roll out bins.

Botha said another 476 residences in the Midtown area would need to be upgraded – a total of 952 bins

“This amount will deplete the allocated funds for 2018 if all residential blocks in Midtown are rolled out,” he said.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell