You ‘alder’ do something about the sightlines, says Spaniard’s Bay councillor

By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

You can’t see the traffic for the trees in some parts of Spaniard’s Bay, according to councillor Darlene Stamp, who called on her colleagues during the last public meeting to do something about it.

Stamp told council that an area at the foot of Brazil’s Hill near the yield sign and turnoff is overgrown, and asked whether anything could be done to clear it up so traffic would be more visible. However, other councillors pointed out that the area does not fall under the town’s jurisdiction — rather, the overgrowth would be the responsibility of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure.

Stamp made a motion to contact the department and ask it to clear up the overgrowth. Councillor Eric Jewer agreed, remarking the obscurity caused by the overgrowth is a hazard.

On the topic of tree-cutting and ditch-clearing, Mayor Paul Brazil noted the Town spent a lot of money getting a brush cutter. However, he added, staff are overwhelmed dealing with water leaks “practically nonstop.” As a result, it is difficult to find the manpower for such tasks as cutting trees and clearing ditches. The Town managed to do some brush-cleaning but ran out of time to complete it all.

The mayor said the town manager has the tasks on a to-do list whenever manpower is available. Stamp suggested someone have a look at the overgrown areas and identify those that are most severe. Mayor Brazil concurred with that idea, suggesting a priority list be created for clearing between now and the middle of November.

Councillor Stamp also noted the trees have grown very close to the sides of the road in Goddenville. She said she was recently driving on the road and had to hit the brakes when a moose jumped out of the foliage. Due to how close the trees were to the road, it had not been visible at all until it emerged.

“A couple of more seconds and I would have been right into him,” she said. “You couldn’t even see it. So that tells you how much it’s overgrown in there.”

Mayor Brazil said he is not sure how much tree-cutting and ditch-clearing the Town will get to this season. It will depend on how much the water leaks persist, and the manpower available in the months to come.