The future maintenance and upkeep of the Mountain View County road network is scheduled to be up for discussion at this week's policies and priorities meeting on Nov. 6.During the last regular council meeting, director of operations Mike MacLean told councillors: “There is a recommendation coming forth in the operations business plan and budget to review the existing collection road network publication that was issued in 2008 and bring it up to date and expand it further.“At the same time, expand the scope to include all roads within the county, not just the collector roads.”The proposed 2013 operations budget is coming before council for review on Wednesday.Coun. Al Kemmere said he supports a road network review.“I think this is a great idea,” said Kemmere. “The comment I would make is that we are a year and a half late because we supported two budgets that identified the present 15-year plan without really getting a good understanding of it. I like the full inclusive, all roads idea. It's a big project but I think we have to do that so that we as council can have confidence in what the plans are.”Kemmere added that, “this should be one of the very first items post-election. Every time you have an election, this should be one of the first things because this is our big item in Mountain View County. It should be first order of business.”Reeve Bruce Beattie said he also supports a review.“We've got to establish where our priorities are. We have a finite amount of money and it comes down to where do we spend it,” said Beattie.Coun. Munro said to council: “During the budget process we are going to be asked to make a decision on programs that are in place, and namely the Acme Road. Clearly I don't think we can make those decisions until we look at this new direction. We have to understand more as council about the whole road system.“I want to spend our money in the most beneficial areas. I think we have to look at roads and I think it's a big deal.”Deputy Reeve McKean said she would support having a councillor workshop on the county's entire road network.CAO Tony Martens told council: “We will look at all the roads and that will be part of our long-range business plan for roads.”Coun. Munro said he would also like to see a review of the county's policies when it comes to oil and gas industry traffic on county roads.Road and highway maintenance has been one of the top topics at recent councillor public open houses.
