By Tyler Marr

Angus Mirasty School and snow clearing top second planning meeting

Mar 16, 2018 | 2:00 PM

Round two of the city’s neighbourhood planning meetings saw department heads field questions on snow removal, bylaw enforcement and a vacant school in the West Hill.

Residents packed the Arthur Pechey School gymnasium Thursday night and took advantage of the open question period to inquire about a local issues. Topping the list was a request from a number of residents for increased snow removal along a few blocks of 22nd St. While they understood the city is doing what it can to clear the snow, residents cited safety concerns.

“There are lots of vehicles that park there, and the snow hasn’t been cleared,” Annette St.Germaine said. “I am quite concerned that if anyone ever ran out from behind one of those snow banks with the ice you wouldn’t be able to stop.”

One resident said with the snow piles alongside parked cars, it would be a tight squeeze if an emergency vehicle needed to gain access. St.Germaine agreed, saying “if there was ever a fire in that area, how would those vehicles get through?”

The city employees acknowledged the block in question was a problem area they were attempting to tackle, but pointed to a tight budget and resource allocation as their main roadblocks. 

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Other concerns raised included the busy four-way stop intersection at 28 St. W and 6 Ave. W. and the need to hurry the expansion of Marquis Road to carry traffic to the hospital as well as summer parking restrictions around Arthur Pechey School.

One big item top of mind for many was the now-shuttered Angus Mirasty School on 5th Ave. W. Claude St.Germaine clapped when a number of residents sought action on the facility. He said many windows have plywood coverings over them, and kids were crawling on the roof and breaking in.

“It is becoming a really big problem, and they need to do something about it,” he said. “Tearing it down; I think that needs to be done.”

City staff said they recognized the concern, but noted there has been no outreach from the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, who owns the property, on what the future could hold.

Aside from his concerns over the shuttered school, St.Germaine said he was content with how the city was operating. They are doing everything that they can, he said, including providing an increased police presence in problem areas.

“What they have been doing has been really great,” he said.

The remaining meetings will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 20 at Princess Margaret School and Wednesday, March 21 at Parkland Community Hall.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr