Sidewalk outside of Carment Court on Eighth Street East. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

By Dawson Thompson

Community Improvement

City to focus on sidewalk fixes outside multi-unit seniors residences

Jul 16, 2021 | 12:00 PM

A priority list to fix broken sidewalks around seniors multi-unit residences has been approved by Prince Albert city council.

Many councilors thought this would be a good idea since there have been complaints about seniors falling and hurting themselves.

However, Ted Zurakowski was one of two councillors opposed to the specific prioritization of seniors multi-unit residences.

“It ignores the seniors who are living in their own homes,” Zurakowski said at Monday’s council meeting. “I’m excited about dedicating dollars towards sidewalk replacement in the areas that seniors live, but the problem with this report, I don’t think it accomplishes it. I do think we need a needs-based approach.

“If there is a need in front of a residents home, let’s get it fixed. If there is a need somewhere else in front of a seniors home, then let’s fix that area of the sidewalk.”

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Public Works staff will inspect city streets and will look for sidewalks that endanger pedestrian safety and put the priority list together.

Priority is based on severity of the sidewalk condition, pedestrian traffic flow and the size of the work.

There are currently 18 sidewalks outside of senior residences that need attention. That would cost $107,164 to fix. This amount will be added to 2022 budget deliberations.

The city has heard many complaints about the sidewalks outside senior care homes.

A sidewalk that is broken outside of Carment Court on Eighth Street East. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

“It is needed because in most care homes people are on walkers, wheelchairs, and crutches,” Mayor Greg Dionne told paNOW after the meeting. “The sidewalks really have to be smooth.”

Recently, there was an incident at Carment Court on Eighth Street East where a resident got their crutch caught in a crack on the sidewalk, and fell and hurt themselves.

It costs $50,000 to replace an entire sidewalk on a standard 150 meter residential block.

Replacing sidewalks that pose a hazard to pedestrians is in line with the city’s strategic goal of encouraging and preparing the city for sustainable growth, being responsive to the needs of residents, and being an active and caring community.

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Dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @dawsonthompson8