As 2017 draws to a close, paNOW is taking a look back on the most important and impactful stories of the year, selected by our reporters and editorial staff.
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Issues within Prince Albert’s midtown area were thrust into the spotlight this year both on social media and city council.
Garbage bin debate
Numerous photos of overflowing, burned and knocked over garage bins showed up on social media the past few months and midtown residents made sure city council was paying attention. The issue was addressed at a council meeting on Oct. 16.
“This problem needs to get solved… This is ridiculous,” Coun. Ted Zurakowski said.
Residents who attended the meeting were informed the cost to impliment roll out bins throughout the whole city would cost upwards of $230,000. A phased-in approached was preferred with priority given to the critical neighbourhoods.
“I think we can solve this problem on a one or two block area [first] then take a look [at the city as a whole] but this problem will be solved,” Zurakowski said.
Rather than move forward with the phased in approach, residents were informed the next month that a block-wide petition garnering majority support was needed before community bins would be replaced.
Shauna Baglole who lives in the 400 blook of 12th St. E. voiced her frustration to paNOW.
“At the meeting we attended before, I understood it as a gradual implementation throughout midtown. There was a particular councilor who said it was going to happen, and now this has changed to being a petition,” she said.
Ward 3 councillor Evert Botha, 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. [The] 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. The phased-in approach will begin in the New Year.
A number of residents in the midtown area have gone ahead already and made the switch. The City’s Public Works department received 60 to 70 requests over the past couple months.
Midtown Neighbourhood Watch
Residents were upset with a growing number of property crimes took matters into their own hands this year by forming the Midtown Neighbourhood Watch group. The initiative was created as a way to help raise awareness, and give residents another avenue to report crimes. A group of residents also began patrols in the area, armed only with flashlights and brightly coloured vests.
Group President Peter John told paNOW the community is plagued by vandalism, theft, vagrancy and drug use.
“When we do our patrols at night we still see lots of people frequenting our back alleys who aren’t supposed to be there,” he said. “There’s only so much we, as residents, can do.”
In June residents were invited by the group’s organizers to share their ideas at a community forum. Police Chief Troy Cooper was also invited and answered questions on topics ranging from the presence of sex-trade workers, graffiti, gangs, litter, and derelict properties.
Cooper explained the police base their patrols on the data collected, but said it requires citizens to help by reporting any suspicious or criminal activities.
“We don’t mind just looking or just checking. Suspicious stuff is OK to call in,” Cooper said. “We have challenges in Midtown, but those challenges aren’t insurmountable.”
More than 50 people attended the forum at the John M. Cuelenaere library.
The neighbourhood watch initiative received strong support from Midtown residents. The group has over 200 members on its Facebook group and dozens of signs supporting the group have been placed in the windows of local homes.
Midtown resident Bill Powalinsky is among the residents who placed a sign in his window. He said he experienced four break-ins over the past 13 months. His list of lost items includes tools, home electronics and a knee brace.
“The ironic thing is we had a sign between the window and the screen in the back of the house. The last time someone broke into the house they took the screen off the window and left the neighbourhood watch sign on the ground, so I think it kind of showed they weren’t overly concerned I was a member of a neighbourhood watch group,” he said.
A community barbecue was held in October as a way for residents to get to know one another. Over $1,500 was also raised towards community initiatives to deter crime.
The group plans to discuss those initiatives at their meeting Jan. 16 at the John M. Cuelenaere Library.
nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca
On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell
