Falher streets re-opening

Richard Froese
Smoky River Express

Two road entries currently closed in Falher along Second Street West will soon be re-opened to allow service vehicles to efficiently serve residents. Council adopted a bylaw (No. 07-03) at it regular meeting April 2 after a silent public hearing. Entrances will open to First Avenue Southwest and Third Avenue Southwest later this spring, after the hearing drew no responses. “We didn’t receive any letters of objection or phone calls,” says town administrator Gerard Nicolet, noting that the bylaw and public hearing were advertised in three consecutive issues of the Smoky River Express. “We didn’t receive any comments either for or against.” Councillors Victor Fournier, Stephen Carter, and Donna Buchinski favored the bylaw while Mayor Margaret Tardif and Councillor Guy Beaudoin voted against without any explanation. Barriers at these two points will be removed, as well as at Central Avenue, after council passed a motion by Councillor Fournier. Big trucks unwelcome Now that the road will soon be opened to through traffic, council wants to restrict heavy vehicles and speeding along these streets. Council directed staff to research limits on trucks in towns and speed limits. “No big trucks should have to drive on these streets,” says Mayor Tardif. “We want them to drive on Railway Avenue.” While the current speed limit is 50 kilometres an hour, council agreed that the speed should be reduced to 30 km/h throughout the municipality. “Maybe we should consider a lower speed limit,” says Mayor Tardif. “If it were 30 all over town, that should solve the problem.” At its regular meeting March 5, Town of Falher council gave first reading to Bylaw 07-03 to re-open the entrances to Avenue Southwest and Third Avenue Southwest. Back in November 2005, council ditched a bylaw that would have re-opened the access on Second Street West at First Avenue Southwest and Second Avenue Southwest. “I was watching our municipal public works vehicles removing snow and they had to back up,” says Deputy Mayor Donna Buchinski who raised the issue at the previous council meeting on Feb. 20 during council concerns. “Everyone on council noticed this, too,” she says. This closed access is also hindering the waste collection truck and fire and emergency vehicles, she adds. “They all can’t do their job properly with these closures,” says Buchinski, who chaired the meeting for the absent Mayor Margaret Tardif. Background – History A proposed bylaw to reopen First Avenue Southwest and Third Avenue Southwest was defeated November 2005 by a slim 3-2 margin. Councillor Victor Fournier – a resident of First Avenue South – introduced the move when he expressed concern that many vehicles were trepassing on his property. “We should have opened all three streets at that time,” says Deputy Mayor Buchinski. During that public hearing, seven residents of First Avenue South voiced opposition to re-opening the entries, siting safety hazards, while council also received 12 letters for other residents opposing the proposal to re-open the entries, concerned with increased traffic, noise, and rising safety risks to children and residents on the streets. These entries on Second Avenue West under discussion were closed in 1997 to prevent heavy-vehicle traffic and speeders. The entry connecting Second Avenue Southwest re-opened about four years ago.