LaSalle mayor’s request for road rationalization study deferred to county budget deliberations

Essex County Civic Centre.

A notice of motion by the Mayor of LaSalle to have a consultant do an Essex County-wide Road Rationalization Study is being deferred to budget deliberations.

At last week’s county council meeting, Crystal Meloche presented a detailed motion to look into the study to determine what roads should be classified as county responsibility as compared to individual municipality.

Part of her motion read, “that the consultant be required to undertake the study with a focus on impartiality, transparency, evidence-based analysis that recommendations are realistic, balanced and in the best interest of the County of Essex.”

“It’s (the motion) long, but it’s detailed for a reason,” said Meloche.

Currently the county is undergoing a $225,000 transportation master plan, through a consultant and another approximately $10,000 on county administration doing additional work to be part of what will become a Road Rationalization Study.

Lakeshore Deputy Mayor Kirk Walstedt wanted to know if the master plan was already addressing what Meloche was requesting.

“They are looking at some of the things you are speaking to right now,” said Essex County director of infrastructure and planning Allan Botham.

According to county CAO Sandra Zwiers, meetings with individual municipal representatives and those from the county regarding a road study are on-going.

“This (study) is a decision at the county level but it directly impacts all of you at the local level,” commented Zwiers.

Meloche said that one reason to take the responsibility of a study away from the current master plan consultant and the county was that road work and infrastructure are a large portion of the county’s annual budget. She also pointed out that of the possible new development charges, 90  percent will go towards roads.

Botham estimated that the cost to do a specific Road Rationalization Study would cost an additional $50,000-$60,000.

In her motion, Meloche said, “an unbiased objective review of the current system is essential to ensure that the study’s findings and recommendations are impartial, accurate and reflect the best interests of Essex County and its stakeholders.”

Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue seemed to take objection to Meloche’s implying that the county administration would be biased if undertaking the study internally.

“I have never in my experience seen public employees ever act in a way that was biased,” said Prue.

Prue added that he has full confidence in the county’s administration.

“I don’t need to go to an outsider,” he said.

LaSalle mayor’s request for road rationalization study deferred to county budget deliberations

By Fred Groves