The highest priority needs are those related to public safety. The new Council must resolve several critical public safety issues in their term of office. The highest priority must be the Trans-Canada and Dunmore Road intersection. Traffic volumes have greatly increased with the Southlands commercial development and the addition of several housing developments.
All that is needed now is a negotiated agreement for senior government contributions to the creation of an overpass. All other inter-governmental issues are secondary to this.
Snow clearing is also a safety issue. Past Council's have not provided the budgets, manpower, and equipment needed to clear streets efficiently following big storms. There has also been an emphasis on snow "clearing" rather than "removal." The result is that graders plow snow up on sidewalks and block driveways. When this snow melts, ice makes both dangerous! More manpower as well as snow removal trucks , graders, and conveyors are needed. This means more tax dollars for snow removal budgets as a priority item.
In the past, some sidewalks were built with very narrow widths. An example is the sidewalk leading from Kin Coulee to the Medicine Hat College. While the narrow sidewalks stretched budget dollars, they have created safety issues for folks with motorized wheelchairs and even pedestrians who must pass each other. It's time to remedy the problems that the City's past economy has created.
