He added it is a smaller road with a culvert, not a bridge. It is not in tiptop shape, but feels it is passable when the weather is good. It is not heavily used, but is by those in the area to get to work, or for farming purposes.
“We don’t expect it to get maintained every time they come out, and we don’t expect it to be ploughed all the time in the winter.”
Lumgair explained they would like to see it designated as a dry weather road, as happens in other rural areas. This would allow for use when conditions permit. He added there are many smaller roads in the municipality used by grain and cattle farmers like this, and some that were once regularly maintained that are now dry weather roads.
“We would like it to be accessible when we need it,” Lumgair stated. “There is gravel on it and you can still get down it as a dry weather road. People can use common sense. People have hauled bales down there and nothing so far has happened to them.”
Lumgair said there was an incident when someone moved the barricades, and the municipal crew had to come put them back up.
One area of concern was the lack of notice. Lumgair said no one in the area was notified by the municipality about the closure or why. He said this lack of communication is frustrating to everyone involved. As well, it has been said the road has been temporarily closed, but residents do not know how long that will be.
“We would like to know what is classified as temporary. If they would have explained to the people why it was closed up, it would have been easier.”
A delegation came to a council meeting on Thursday, September 5, but was not able to speak, as they were not registered. The group has asked to be put on the agenda to discuss the issue.
The municipality recently put a notice on Facebook telling residents that part of the road has been closed temporarily due to safety concerns, apologizing for any inconvenience until a permanent solution can be found. Council declined to comment on the issue at the time of writing, preferring to first discuss the situation with residents at the next meeting.
Lumgair said he and other residents are hoping they can have a good discussion then and have a reasonable solution as soon as possible.
“We would like to get it rectified,” he said. “We would like to get a dry weather road designated to start with, to get this taken care of.”
by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff