BARRHEAD — The decision not to build a new sidewalk when the reconstruction of the 53rd Avenue moves ahead has received some backlash from Barrhead residents.
At their Aug. 16 meeting, Town of Barrhead councillors passed a motion to accept for information a petition signed by approximately 18 residents asking for “more investigation and consultation with the residents of 53rd Avenue” regarding the sidewalk decision.
“We also ask the Town of Barrhead councillors to provide more information regarding the consultation leading up to that decision. Relying only on the opinion of one person who lives in the 53rd Avenue neighbourhood does not seem adequate,” the petition states.
The decision not to rebuild the sidewalk was made at the July 25 town council meeting.
In his report to council, chief administrative officer (CAO) Edward LeBlanc said the town had already set aside $150,000 in the 2023 capital budget to resurface approximately 270 metres of the service road.
Since then, however, it had been determined that the gutters and curbs of the sidewalk along that service road also needed to be replaced.
LeBlanc said the original strategy in respect to the sidewalk had been to replace only a few sections, but now a complete rehabilitation project would be needed.
If councillors chose to do so, reconstructing 53rd Avenue and replacing the existing four-feet wide sidewalk would cost $188,300. They also had the option to expand the sidewalk to six feet, though that would narrow the road.
Mayor Dave McKenzie said that, based on his research, a four-foot sidewalk no longer met pedestrian needs.
"When you factor in mobility scooters and walkers, people walking beside each other, kids on bikes, and meeting fellow pedestrians coming from the opposite direction, the era of the four-foot sidewalk is over," he said.
Coun. Rod Klumph said he also preferred to walk on the service road at wintertime because it is safer than the sidewalk, which can sometimes be covered with snow and ice.
Ultimately, council chose to proceed with the reconstruction of 53rd Avenue without the sidewalk, which would instead be replaced with top soil and grass. LeBlanc estimated the cost of that option to be an additional $8,000.
The petition, which was submitted to the Town of Barrhead Aug. 10, has been signed by what appears to be 18 people, though because of privacy concerns, the names and addresses of those residents have been blacked out within the town’s agenda package.
LeBlanc indicated that the Municipal Government Act (MGA) required him to make a declaration to council within 45 days of receiving a petition about whether or not it is valid.
He declared it invalid, as it didn’t meet the requirement under the MGA to be signed by at least 10 per cent of Barrhead’s population.
“At the end of the day, it doesn’t meet the requirements of a true petition,” he said, recommending that council simply accept it for information.
