Port McNicoll residents close to 1st Avenue will not be able to access their local trail during winter.
A couple weeks ago, a long-time local resident wrote in asking council to consider maintaining the trail this winter to allow local families to use it for walking and outdoor activity during the colder months. Council was divided on how to approach the issue with some supporting it as a way to give residents a healthy outlet during the pandemic and others saying it wasn't an idea they would consider for even a second.
It all came down to the price tag, which staff was asked to research and bring forward for a December meeting. At a recent meeting, a report included in the agenda indicated that $10,000 alone would have to be spent on maintaining the pathway during winter. The cost, staff noted, didn't include repairs that the trail may incur due to snowmobile use. Staff also mentioned increased liability, but didn't include any word from the township insurer about how the move would affect insurance costs.
Staff also cautioned that if council approved maintaining the said trail during winter, it will set a precedent for similar requests for other trails in the municipality. As a compromise, staff recommend, that committee could consider maintaining a one-kilometre section of the trail in each community at a cost of $20,000 or more for additional winter maintenance cost.
Only Coun. Paul Raymond felt the expense was worth the investment in residents' mental health.
"Community health is vital so I do support that initiative," he said. "I realize there's cost of maintenance and remedial repairs. At the end of the day, the dollars are worth it because we need healthy communities."
However, he had staunch opposition from the rest of council.
"My fear would be the potential damage from frost moving," said Deputy Mayor Gerard LaChapelle. "The asphalt sits on cinder, not 12 inches of concrete. That's why it's always been a detriment. We do get pressure cracks in it. I would caution on that. I like the idea of providing recreation, but at what cost? We could incur more damage."
Coun. Mary Warnock agreed with him.
"I know in Port McNicoll people are looking for a space to walk off the road, but there's the danger of ATVs and snowmobiles using it, too," she added,
Coun. Barry Norris said Canadians should be used to some winter sports.
"This is winter country," he said, "there are two ways people can utilize the trail: snowshoes and cross-country skiing. That's how I see it.
"The trail system was not designed for winter maintenance," added Norris. "The second part is liability. As soon as you start clearing off a pathway, you have to understand the way the weather has been when you end up with rain, there's ice on it."
Mayor Ted Walker said it was ironic Norris would mention liability when kids and seniors are walking on the road instead of on the trail, where it's safer.
"I have to laugh at the liability," said Walker. "Come on boy, get real! Don't give me liability issues. Doing this is no more liability than having someone on our road or sidewalk. We're always struggling to find recreation for our seniors. They're stuck here. Normally they would be going somewhere they have clear sidewalks, but at least we're providing them with some recreation."
He added that if the costs for plowing the trail were "phenomenal," he would ask staff to come back with costs for grooming it.
"I don't think costs are any more than providing any other recreation," added Walker. "I don't know if the rest of you are getting the number of calls I'm getting, particularly from seniors, that there are a lot of them here this year. They're unable to go south, so they're looking for some recreation, such as walking. Other municipalities are getting questions with respect to that, too."
With that, he suggested that if council did not agree to having the entire 1st Avenue trail maintained, maybe they could consider clearing parts of the Tay Trail in three hamlets.
"Let's staff give some suggestions," said Walker. "We don't need a 25 mile trail. We need something people can get out and take a walk on with their dogs. At least they're off roads and the danger is reduced from that standpoint."
That was something Warnock said she could get behind.
"Let's give a little," she said. "If people are wanting somewhere to walk safely, let it be. They pay taxes and they have the right to say what they want."
But LaChapelle still had concerns, not with liability, he said, but more with potential injuries.
"When you get something on a trail that's packed, you're more prone now to ice build up," he said. "We're accountable no matter what we do. Are we also going to sand it? How long of a walkway are we talking?"
Walker wasn't fazed.
"First the concern was liability and now it's injury and then the deputy mayor says we're accountable no matter what we do," he said. "In his own words, whether we do or not, the liability is not going to change. If we have to put some sand on it, then let's put some sand on it.
"We're arguing we shouldn't open our rinks because we're not getting enough snow and here we are talking about how much snow we have to remove from the trail," added Walker. "If we damage the trail, we fix it next year."
Although, his request wasn't backed at that meeting, he said he planned on bringing it back to council Wednesday.
