News Leader News for April 28, 2009
COMMITTEE FIGHTS FOR INTERSECTION
The highway crossing at Burton Avenue will change, but by how much only time will tell.
The Princeton Accessibility Awareness Committee welcomed Gerry Wells of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to their April 23rd meeting to discuss the ongoing issue of highway travelers not responding to the pedestrian controlled crosswalk.
Wells, the Area Roads Manager from Penticton explained that there is, "no rhyme or reason to what works or what doesn't work at any given intersection" in the province.
"The standards are currently being exceeded (at Burton Avenue) but I'm working on trying to bring enhancements to the intersection and improve safety."
The PAAC stood firmly on their request for a red light to bring traffic to a complete stop stating a flashing yellow light only means slow down to many drivers.
"If we're stopping traffic on a highway we need to be sure we are stopping them for legitimate reasons," Wells responded.
To date, Wells has ordered over-size advance signage and suggested cutting out sections of the traffic islands to make them wheelchair accessible.
The PAAC also listened to Wells suggest additional lighting on poles located at 'vision height' may enhance the crossing along with adding a stop line to the pavement just before the crosswalk but did not seem interested in anything less than a red light to force traffic to stop. The Committee had done it's homework and pointed out the flashing lights do not always activate immediately after the control button has been pushed and that the often hard to see yellow lights flash for only 25-seconds, barely enough time for a safe crossing of Highway 3 for people with mobility issues.
The Committee also pointed out that advance warning signs were located too close to the intersection and the manual activation button would likely have to be lowered once sections of the island have been cut away. Wells offered to replace the yellow flashing lights with 'high intensity' lighting and adding an audible sound to let pedestrians know when the flashing lights were activated along with extending the length of time they are flashing.
The PAAC saw most of these suggestions as band-aid solutions to avoid replacing the existing yellow lights with red ones. Wells will use feedback from the accessibility committee when addressing the changes planned for the Highway 3 crossing at Burton Avenue.
NOTES FROM TOWN COUNCIL
Two citizens lose election rights
Under Section 90 of the Local Government Act, each person who was declared to be a candidate in the November 2008 local government elections must file a financial disclosure statement. Failure to do so has a penalty.
Candidates had until March 16, 2009, to file the disclosure, but also could file late with a $500 penalty up to April 15, 2009. In Princeton, two candidates did not meet either deadline.
Two candidates, Randall Gibson and Dina Slowikowski-Campbell, did not file financial disclosure forms. As a result, these two people are disqualified from being nominated or elected for any local government office, including school trustee, in the next local government elections.
Council considers sculpture
Town Council received a letter from a local sculptor who offered to create a "monumental sculpture" in the new town square. He is suggesting something as large as two or three metres square.
Council discussed the idea of putting up a sculpture, but had not budgeted for it as part of the park. Community Services Director Lyle Thomas will speak with the sculptor to see what he had visualized. Thomas will report back to Council at a later date.
Rodeo beckons to Council
Keremeos Elks will hold their 71st annual rodeo on May 17, 18 and 19. Princeton Town Council was invited to participate in the annual rodeo parade, but Mayor Randy McLean had some concerns. Council usually takes the antique fire engine to the parade, but has had problems finding a suitable trailer on which to haul the old vehicle.
According to Mayor McLean, the antique fire engine is so heavy it requires a very large, very strong trailer.
Council did decide that any members of Council who could go to the parade should do so. In the meantime, Council will try to find a suitable trailer.
Council plans golf team
Princeton Rotary Club is planning a golf tournament to raise funds for the Princeton Highway Extrication Society. Rotary sent a letter to Town Council asking for a sponsorship. As Council has no budget for sponsorship in this event, Councillor Jason Earle suggested an alternative.
Council will put together a golf team in which individual members will pay their own entry fee, and will donate a Town of Princeton jacket to the prize table.
Council refuses Legion request
The Royal Canadian Legion requested a $250 advertisement in a book honouring veterans. Although Town Council has bought such an advertisement in the past, Councillor Jason Earle questioned whether this was the best use of taxpayer dollars.
Mayor Randy McLean said he would rather give the Legion a direct donation than pay for an advertisement. Councillor Ray Jarvis said the Legion will be holding a golf tournament later this year, and a donation to that event would keep the money in the community and show support for the local branch of the Legion. Councillors agreed this was a better use of the money.
CARLSON INVITES COUNCIL TO RIDE
Ken Carlson, Chairman of the Princeton Accessibility Awareness Committee, appeared before Town Council on April 20 to invite them to travel through downtown Princeton in a wheelchair. This will be Princeton's second Wheel-About Day, making Councillors aware of accessibility problems in Princeton.
The provincial Accessibility Awareness Day is June 6, but Princeton's day will be May 27.
Carlson submitted a very long list of locations and problems that impair accessibility. These problems affect not only people in wheelchairs, but include people using walkers, and people with vision problems. For example, the list includes areas with high "trip" factors.
In his presentation to Council, Carlson included praise for the Legion for making the lounge and hall wheelchair accessible, and praise for the work done at the mall to make it accessible.
Council discussed what happened at the small traffic hazard protest, and Mayor Randy McLean said he watched as car after car failed to stop for pedestrians crossing the Burton Avenue-Highway 3 intersection.
Motorists simply cannot see the flashing lights, and the lights do not flash long enough for a person to cross the entire intersection. This situation is supposed to be corrected by May 27.
