Dear Editor;
While walking home from the Seniors Drop-In Centre on Friday, Jan. 9, I came past the Nazarene Church. At the end of the property I was forced to walk on the side of the road because the sidewalk had not been cleared for a long while – maybe not even once this winter.
With our January snowfall, it now requires power equipment to clear the sidewalks. It appears to me that the Department of Highways may have ploughed some snow onto that area too because it may have appeared that there was no sidewalk there.
Does Rimbey have a bylaw officer?
I believe that all property owners or renters who have a sidewalk adjacent to their property are required to keep that sidewalk clear of snow. Business owners are not exempt from this requirement either. If the Town does not have a bylaw officer I offer them my services to do this task. I could be paid by the hour or by the mile – we could work something out I’m sure.
I know that this task could have a negative impact on the elected officials of the Town Council if one of them was required to get after the negligent parties, but a hiring of the Council might be seen as a wise move on their part. I know that Mr. Ron Taylor got stuck in the slush with his scooter en route to the Drop-In Centre on Jan. 16th. He was crossing from sidewalk to sidewalk. A truck driver stopped, got out and pushed Ron out. Many thanks are offered by Ron and other seniors for this act of helpful kindness.
I request that Council take a walk past a number of businesses in the downtown core. Some only clear the snow from the front of their premises, not to the end of the lot, while some don’t clear the snow from their sidewalk between the entrance and exit from their property.
The current icing condition makes walking a very hazardous exercise and will keep some senior citizens at home. May I expect action from town council?
Yours truly,
Hugh Bayne
Rimbey