A temporary fence has been reinstalled for a third time around the Margo Fournier Centre. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW)

By Dawson Thompson

Fences Return

City to install downtown fences again and consider moving gazebo

Sep 8, 2021 | 5:00 PM

For a third time, the city will install a temporary fence around the Margo Fournier Centre and the Prince Albert Heritage Centre. Meanwhile, council may consider moving the gazebo on River Street to Little Red River Park.

The fence was initially installed in August 2020, then again in July of this year to combat loitering and safety issues. It was taken down three weeks ago after several councillors called the temporary solution ’embarrassing’ and an ‘eye sore’.

But at Tuesday’s council meeting, a decision was made to put the fence back up after seniors who attend the Heritage Centre brought forward a petition with over 80 signatures on it, citing safety as their primary concern.

“Our seniors live here, they pay taxes, and they deserve to be safe,” councillor Ted Zurakowski said at the meeting. “I can’t look into the eyes of the seniors there and say, ‘good luck’. Vandalism? Urination? Defecation? Shooting up with needles? ‘Good luck’. The fence is not the answer, but it keeps our seniors safe until we can come up with a solution.”

The fence around the Margo Fournier Centre. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

Raiders AGM

Raiders impact on Prince Albert local economy continues to go up: AGM report

9h ago

Court proceedings

'The impact of this trauma will echo for generations': court case surrounding La Ronge woman's death reaches conclusion

Dec 11, 2024

Going Global

P.A.'s Zablocki named to Team Canada for U18 Women's World Championships

Dec 11, 2024

Mayor Greg Dionne, who voted against removing the fence less than a month ago, reminded council it was always supposed to be just a temporary solution.

‘But it works,” Dionne said. “It moved all the people away from the Heritage Centre and even benefited some of the stores to the south.

“They said as soon as the fence went up, and people moved on, they had no more disturbances in their stores and their customers felt safe.”

But as soon as the fence came down, Dionne said safety issues returned. Seniors were having a difficult time accessing the door to the Heritage Centre because people loitering wouldn’t move.

“We had seniors have stuff thrown at them,” Dionne said. “It’s just not acceptable. Not in our city, or any city. We should have respect for our seniors.”

Only three councillors opposed the idea of bringing back the fence: Terra Lennox-Zepp, Charlene Miller and Tony Head. By Wednesday afternoon, it had already been reinstalled around the Margo Fournier Centre.

Fences surrounding the Heritage Centre were reinstalled Wednesday. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

Councillors, however, reiterated the need for a more permanent solution and called on administration to help.

“We have got an administrative team that are highly paid, and need to come up with a solution, and give us a recommendation,” Coun. Dennis Ogrodnick said. “We have got talented and brilliant people that we have hired, and I am asking them to come up with a solution and advise us. How is it going to involve police? How will it involve bylaw? Is it legal? That’s what I want to see.”

River Street Gazebo

A temporary fence will not be reinstalled at the gazebo on River Street for now. After talking with multiple residents and hearing some possible solutions from the public on how to best protect the gazebo, Mayor Dionne made a motion to have the community service department bring back a report to council on what the cost would be to relocate the historical landmark.

Dionne suggested Little Red River Park as a possible new location for the gazebo.

—

Dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @dawsonthompson8