Rural councillors reiterate concern for road's condition

Rural councillors' backs were up at a recent council meeting when an urban councillor asked for a staff report on a rural road. Ward 3 (Georgetown) councillor Mike Davis requested a staff report outlining steps to deal with the rutting on Tenth Line, above Glen Williams. The recently approved 2006 capital budget already included funding this year to improve the road, Director of Engineering and Public Works Rick Henry informed Davis. "It was good work by the Ward 2 (rural) councillors to get this into the budget and for addressing it," said Mayor Rick Bonnette. "I would hope that any residents in Ward 2 concerned about that (the road) should please get in touch with Councillors (Bryan) Lewis, (Clark) Somerville or myself," said Councillor Joan Robson. Lewis and Robson had made this road an issue back in July, even recalling the mayor from his vacation, when the public works department became concerned about the deteriorating road conditions. "Yes, we've been very hands on about this," said Lewis. "We knew we would have more damage (on Tenth Line), there was damage in the first place, but the alternative was to re-route the truck traffic through Glen Williams, and that wasn't going to happen." Funding-- utilizing gas tax revenues-- was included in this year's budget with reconstruction from River Dr. to 20 Sideroad in 2007. Last September, Davis was the only councillor to vote against Bonnette's resolution to use a portion of the gas tax revenues to improve rural roads. Davis's intent this time, however, was to bring attention to his belief that the mild temperatures this winter are contributing to road issues in the rural area, and that half load limits should be placed on the roads until the end of April. At a previous meeting he could not gain support on this from either his colleagues or staff.