Lakefield Herald Special Report

Sidewalk request draws rant from Reeve

by Simon Conolly

What seemed to be a straightforward request for extension of sidewalks in a Lakefield neighbourhood did not appear that way to Reeve Ron Millen at Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield Council’s July 15 meeting.

The request came in the form of a letter from John Milligan, a long-time Rolliston St. resident.

Mr. Milligan said he and his wife are frequent, year-round walkers, and are concerned about traffic conditions on Strickland St.

There is a sidewalk along Strickland from Queen to Prospect St., but not beyond that to the east.

Mr. Milligan suggested that in view of increased Strickland St. traffic due to development of the Lakefield Primary Healthcare Centre, the Strickland St. sidewalk should be extended to Hwy. 28.

Staff presented the letter to council along with a recommendation that it be forwarded to the Public Works Department for consideration in the 2009 budget.

But the issue did not appear as straightforward to Reeve Millen.

“I’m not in favour of this at all,” he said. “We had an urban location for the Medical Centre.

“If they wanted sidewalks, why did they go out in the country? I’m afraid this is the thin edge of the wedge.”Mr. Millen said he had heard there might be a request to extend the municipal watermains to the Medical Centre location.

Lakefield Councillor Anita Locke said, “I don’t see that this is really related to the Medical Centre,” but the Reeve disagreed.

“This is linked to the Medical Centre, clearly,” he said.

Deputy Reeve Mary Smith suggested, “We need to treat this the same as any other request for sidewalks – refer it to Public Works.”

The Reeve responded: “He mentioned the Medical Centre; we have to look at sidewalks in the whole township, and Bridgenorth doesn’t have its share.”

Mr. Milligan – who is not connected with the Lakefield Community Medical Support Foundation – told The Herald he has been talking to Deputy Reeve Smith about the issue for the past two years, long before the Strickland St. location for the Medical Centre was decided.

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