This past year was not drastically different from last year for Sundre's community peace officer.
However, issues over cats and dogs, along with feeding deer, noise and some unsightly premises are still among the main concerns, said Kevin Heerema during a presentation to council at the Nov. 23 meeting.
“I was concerned with the number of dog bites we've had this year.”
“We have had three later on this year. They've all been pretty much wrapped up — we do have one charge pending on one of them, and other than that, that's really the biggest concern.”
Otherwise, it has been a modest year.
“We're a little shy on the number of tickets issued.”
The count was at 69 by the end of September, and the number usually reaches about 120 by year's end, he said.
Coun. Jodi Orr said she had recently spent an afternoon with Heerema and that it was an eye-opening experience that enlightened her. Whereas she once thought peace officers just patrol around and occasionally pull people over, she said “it's much more than that.”
Coun. Myron Thompson expressed concerns over Third Street NW near the daycare. When vehicles are parallel parked along on both sides, the street narrows down to one-lane traffic “where you have to wait for somebody if you're meeting them head on.”
The councillor recalled a recent experience while running an errand in the area when he saw a child run out into the street from between parked cars by the daycare.
“The mother just happened to reach out and drag him back out of the way before a car was right there,” he said, adding the driver also slammed on the brakes.
“I understand we can't put speeding regulations on there for some reason or another,” said Thompson. “Can we not at least think about a ‘caution: children in area sign' or something? Because that is a dangerous street — I've seen too many close calls, and I think something should be addressed. I don't know what the answer is, but something has to be there.”
Coun. Chris Vardas said he's seen residents in some communities place warning signs that children are playing in the vicinity. Anyone can buy such a sign and place it on their property, he said, adding traffic does seem to respond by slowing down.
“It's a pretty good idea and a cheap way to do it.”
Administrator Dave Dubauskas said staff had looked into the matter but couldn't find the legislation that would give the town authority to lower the speed limit.
“I have seen those signs that you've talked about Chris, and they are quite effective.”
Mayor Terry Leslie said looking into the sign bylaw to determine whether it would be possible to allow people, such as the daycare's owners, to place a sign on their own volition could be an option.
“Perhaps that could be something we could look into.”
Heerema said that idea has been proposed to the daycare before.
