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2 - "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY; JANUARY 12, 2001 Council vows to find solution for parking woes By John B. McClelland - Weekend Star Scugog Township will consider all options to solve the problem of vehi- cles blocking driveways and access along narrow lakeside roads. | It's an issue that comes up each winter as ice fish- ermen and snowmobilers flock to Lake Scugog and park their vehicles and trailers along the roads, creating what residents say is an inconvenience, but also a real threat to public safety. At its first public meet- ing last Monday afternoon, the newly-elected Scugog council heard from several residents of Platten Blvd. on Scugog Island who said vehicles parked along the road are blocking access for emergency access by ambulances and fire trucks. And Ken Bell, a spokesman for the Platten residents, said some who are parking their vehicles along the road are leaving garbage and being verbal- ly abusive when asked to move their trucks and trail- ers. "Most (ice fishermen and snowmobilers) are okay, but a few can abu- sive," Mr. Bell said. Residents are getting frustrated to the point where there have been suggestions of causing deliberate damage, he said, adding he is strongly trying to discourage this kind of action. Councillors were sym- pathetic to the concerns expressed by the resi- dents and pledged to look at all possible solutions to the problems, including leasing farm fields where snowmobilers.and ice fish- ermen can park their vehi- cles and trailers while they enjoy the winter activities on Lake Scugog. But councillors made it clear there are no easy "quick fix" solutions. For example, it would take several weeks to get a parking bylaw legally in PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR FOURTH ANNUAL CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY 2 Ee f, 4 y me { IH rated e Cakes ® Logs ® 50z. Sundaes ® Treatzza Pizza" ® Novelties ® Double Cheeseburgers ® Peanut Buster Parfait" A Ca i 1 DUSTIN SS aWAYRY place; the municipality would need to identify legal road allowances where signs can be placed; and residents were told that leasing a vacant field might sound like a good idea, but would be worth- less if it's not in a location offering visitors handy access to the lake. Meanwhile, two bait- shop operators present at Monday's meeting pointed out that winter visitors using Lake Scugog for recreation boost the local economy with their pur- chases of minnows, fishing gear, gasoline, and restau- rant meals. A heavy-handed crack- down by the police and bylaw enforcement could drive the visitors away, they suggested. Mayor Doug Moffatt agreed the current three- hour parking limit on Platten Blvd. is not sulffi- cient. But he told the dele- gation that police officers - were asking that vehicles be moved. The mayor also noted that if a "no parking any- time" bylaw was passed and signs went up, it would apply to friends and rela- tives visiting Island resi- dents as well as those fish- ing or snowmobiling on winter weekends. Ward 2 rep Marilyn Pearce suggested the township should get the Ministry of Natural Resources involved in try- ing to find a workable solu- tion to the problem, espe- cially if costs are incurred. "MNR issues the (fish- ing) licences and gets all the revenue and we get all the headaches," said Councillor Pearce. The issue was turned over to the works commit- tee for study, but the mayor said "we are going ~ to look at all our options, but public safety and the needs of our residents must be at the top of the list." 'No need for north to amalgamate, says $40,000 report From page 1 They should also take a look at what has hap- pened to other munici- palities in Ontario that amalgamated either on their own or by order of Queen's Park, says the report. The report and the recommendations was given a lengthy and at times spirited debate by the newly elected town- ship council, which met for its first public meeting last Monday. Councillors eventually endorsed the report find- ings, and agreed to a meeting later in the week for the elected reps of the four municipalities. That meeting, arranged recently by Scugog Mayor Doug Moffatt, was to be held in Uxbridge on Thursday. However, there was some concern expressed by members of Scugog council about the meet- ing in Uxbridge. Ward 1 Councillor Larry Corrigan said he was not comfort- able going into the meet- ing without a thorough briefing from municipal staff on the contents of the report and all its pos- sible ramifications. And Ward 2 rep Marilyn Pearce expressed similar concerns. "Our staff has not told us if this is right or wrong. We need staff to bring us up to speed. This (the report) is not a friendly study for Scugog," said Councillor Pearce. Mayor Doug Moffatt told council that he believes the provincial government is not far ffom forcing municipali- ties such as Scugog to take some kind of action on restructuring. "I' feel strongly that time is of the essence," he said. He defended his efforts to cobble together Thursday's meeting, despite a lukewarm response from some councillors in the other municipalities. A Wrong name in accident report Incorrect information in a police report led to the name of a victim in a snowmobiling accident being wrongly stat- . ~ed in a story in Tuesday's edi- tion of the Port Perry Star. Police gave the name of the man who reported the incident - David Heffering - as the victim, ------ a rm TEENY SSR --