A Thunder Beach resident wants to be part of the solution and not just the person who points out problems.
Joel Rubinovich said he will keep asking for the changes to signage, road cleaning, and street lighting, until the issues are addressed by the township.
He had brought up the three issues through a deputation at last month's committee of the whole meeting. The township followed up on the issue with staff at its most recent committee meeting.
"I was just wondering if any staff have made an attempt to try to meet with Mr. Rubinovich just to be shown the specific concerns that he had?" asked Coun. Tony Mintoff.
Tim Leitch, director of public works, confirmed he had met with Rubinovich, but last summer.
"From there, we did some additional work, some tar and chip on the corner where we had some lose material," said Leitch. "We did a sweep up there. We also did some brushing on the signs. Through our master plan, we are looking at different things, and making sure these concerns are reviewed."
The township will continue to look at all these types of opportunities to help out residents, he added.
Mintoff wasn't really convinced that a meeting last summer had resulted in a full resolution.
"Having met with him last summer doesn't allay the concerns he expressed last meeting with respect to the quantity of lose gravel on the roadway," he said. "It doesn't sound like whatever happened back in the summer has resolved the concern, so that's why I thought it would be helpful for somebody to go out there now."
Leitch said the issues Rubinovich brought up this time were the same staff had dealt with previously.
"Through our sweeping program, we will ensure these areas are cleaned up properly as we do with all our street corners in the township," said Leitch, adding the sweeping program begins once the snow season ends.
Rubinovoch, who lives on Green Point Road, confirmed Leitch's visit.
"First of all, he did come out here the first time we stood out in our driveway," said Rubinovich talking to MidlandToday. "But (from there) you can't see the issues I raised concerns about. The reality is that if you look at the issue I've raised and I'm not there, it's useless.
"He's a very good man and he's very intelligent," he added, talking about Leitch, "but he speaks for the township, and I speak for myself."
Rubinovich said the township labels some roads as "country roads."
"That's nice," he said. "(But) we have these 24-wheel trucks driving back and forth on the roads and it's got to affect the road and it has to be redone. But they don't because they say it's a country road."
Rubinovich said he feels unsafe walking over large pebbles to reach his mailbox.
"I may think I'm young, but I'm not," he said. "I know they have a machine with a brush on it, once a year come and brush it up."
Rubinovich's second matter of concern was around the inconsistency of signage.
And at the meeting, Coun. Gibb Wishart was also questioning that.
"If there's a road teeing off to the left, is the sign always on the right or always on the left?" he asked Leitch. "Do we do this consistently across the township? Can a stranger expect to find the sign in the same place in relation to where the road is or does it change with the topography?"
Leitch admitted there are lots of locations in the township where that happens.
"(It's) based on site triangles and visibility there that the sign for a left turn might be on the right side of the road," he said. "There are several locations in the township that are very similar, and you see that throughout lots of areas outside of Tiny."
Leitch said staff looked at the sign on Concession 12 that Rubinovich had pointed out and brushed there.
"We will continue with that to make sure the sign is clear," said Leitch. Typically, we'd rather have it at the corner, but in some situations, because of site triangles or where the road is located, there are several factors involved in that."
Rubinovich said he understands the township doesn't want to spend money on new signage, but they could promise to look at it in the future.
"The signage," he said, "I believe is misplaced. I'm a driver and if I'm looking for a certain street, if the street goes to the left and the sign is on the right, how do I know to look at the right?"
He said one way of solving the issue is to install more lights at such corners.
"Once it's winter and you're driving down du Loup and you want to make a turn on Green Point, the sign is on the right and the road is on the left," said Rubinovich. "I would like to have a light there lighting up the three signs at the end of the road."
He said the response by staff at the recent meeting makes him think they're hoping he will not bother them again with the same issues.
When asked if he would, Rubonivich said, "You bet I am. If no one does anything within the next few weeks, I will bring it up again. I don't want to be a nuisance, I'd rather be part of the group that's trying to do better."
