While councillors said they are happy to receive ideas from town residents, they voted to deny the Royal Canadian Legion Br. 29’s request to paint a mural of soldiers marching on the crosswalk there during last night’s council meeting.
“There are some very good technical reasons that administration has prepared as to why that is not advisable but I think the process sometimes of council may leave the community to think that we aren’t receptive to those kinds of ideas,” said Coun. Douglas Judson.
“I really appreciated the citizens creativity and enthusiasm here and I think that our local public should know this council is receptive to ideas like that to beautify and enhance our community and to install different features that speak to our identity and heritage,” he added.
On March 13, Legion Br. 29 president Ann Watson sent a letter to council requesting permission to paint a template of soldiers walking across the legion’s crosswalk to increase visibility, reinforce the presence of the Legion, and reinforce its mandate regarding veterans.
At the March 25 council meeting, the request was referred to the town who later received a recommendation from staff to deny the Legion’s request.
This was due to liability issues, such as if a driver is distracted by the uncommon markings, as well as safety concerns for the Legion’s volunteers who would be painting the mural on an active roadway.
Part of the report council passed last night regarding the Legion’s request states that signage at this crosswalk will be changed to meet the standard of an uncontrolled crosswalk and to address concerns around visibility.
Coun. Andrew Hallikas echoed Coun. Judson’s comments and said the town encourages residents to bring forward proposals that matter to them.
“We want to make sure that the community understands that we as councillors are members of the community . . . and we really do care about the ideas that we get . . . and we want people to keep sending those ideas in. ” he remarked.
“Sometimes due to regulations we can’t fulfill the request but they are given a lot of thought,” Coun. Hallikas added. “We certainly care about them and we want to hear about them.”
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
- passed a bylaw to establish tax ratios for prescribed property classes;
- passed a bylaw to amend Zoning Bylaw 03/14, as amended (316 Victoria Ave.);
- heard a delegation re: Fort Frances fishing bridge;
- approved the Rainy River District Festival for the Performing Art’s financial request for $100;
- approved a report re: pool closure for members;
- approved a report re: landfill use request from Whitefish Bay First Nation;
- approved a report re: TBT Engineering request for side entrance agreement;
- approved a report re: applications for tax adjustment re: 808 Scott St. (2018);
- approved a report re: applications for tax adjustment re: 1022 Colonization Rd. West (2018); and
- approved a report re: applications for tax adjustment re: 737 Scott St. (2018)
