Signage to prohibit dirt bike and golf cart usage debated by council

The issue of golf carts and dirt bikes in the Lakewood Beach area and signage to prohibit that was brought up at the most recent town council meeting.

Councillor Diane Pouget brought the matter forward with the end result being council directing administration to prepare a report on the feasibility of installing such signage. Other members of council did have concerns about whether or not that could or should be done in other areas.

Councillor Peter Courtney noted there are other areas such as Lake Erie Country Club, Boblo Island, Bar Point, Amherst Pointe, and Willowood where these types of vehicles are known to operate. He questioned whether the same signage should be installed in those areas. CAO Valerie Critchley noted the Ministry of Transportation was petitioned for Boblo Island to be included in a pilot project for golf carts but said it is at council’s discretion to install signs in other areas. Until an area is included in a pilot project, the area and its roadways are covered by the Highway Traffic Act.

Mayor Michael Prue had questions over how many signs would be needed and what the costs would be. He estimated 20-30 signs at $250 apiece for each area. He said he would rather see a report before agreeing to installing signs.

Pouget said the bulk of the complaints she received is from the Lakewood Beach area and only wanted that area dealt with at the present time. Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb wanted a “full perspective” of costs and also wondered about liability.

“I have a lot of questions on this that I don’t think can be properly answered right now,” he said.

Pouget said she recalled being told signs were available and that she wanted to pursue signs at the present time, noting she wanted it done within the present budget.    “Some of these children are 12-years-old driving these golf carts. I’m just trying to keep people safe,” said Pouget.

Manager of licensing and enforcement Bill Tetler said administration worked with the Windsor Police Service – Amherstburg Detachment to send 473 letters to people in the Lakewood Beach and Lake Erie Country Club areas on road safety and possible penalties if there are violations of the Highway Traffic Act.

Councillor Linden Crain said he was comfortable with the letters.  

“Let’s not jump the gun, letters have gone out, and I’d happy with a report to come back,” he said.

Possible crosswalk

Town administration has been tasked by council to prepare a report outlining costs of getting a traffic engineer to complete a study regarding a possible crosswalk near Lowes Side Road and Sandwich St. S.

Pouget thanked Prue and Gibb for bringing the issue of speed limits in the area forward at Essex County council, which saw speeds lowered and speed limit signs moved to improve safety in that area.

Prue said he already thanked county council and that Pouget was credited for bringing the issue up. 

It was learned throughout the speed limit process that the crosswalk was not a county responsibility so she brought the matter up at the town level. She made the motion to have a study undertaken, and that was passed by council.

Courtney asked about the process, noting more engineering costs would be incurred. Administration noted there are no traffic engineers on staff and there could be issues that cannot be addressed internally.

Public notice

A member of council wanted to make changes to council agenda notifications but her colleagues were apprehensive on some of the suggestions.

Councillor Molly Allaire called for not only notification be put on social media, a brief summary be placed online with direct links to the agenda and reports, a brief summary highlighting “key topics” being brought forward and a ¼-page summary ad in the River Town Times outlining agenda highlights and how to register as a delegate.

Allaire said she hears from residents after something is approved that they didn’t know it was coming forward. She noted the full-page paid ad on the back of the RTT was utilized weekly but “main bullet points about what is going on” at council meetings should be published so residents could delegate.

The town has “a great social media reach,” Allaire added, suggesting if links and bullet points are put online, “we cover our bases of saying we are working to keep our public informed to what is happening in council.”

Prue believed it would take “considerable staff time” to fulfill that, adding that staff could be subject to criticism if they bring up points the public doesn’t believe to be salient. 

“I’m very cautious about this,” he said.

Allaire says she puts information on her own social media, suggesting the headers in the agenda be put online and people can go to whatever they are interested in.

Councillor Linden Crain recalled when he worked in the Mayor’s Office at the City of Windsor would just post the fact the meeting agendas were live with a link “and that’s it.” He believed adding each topic of discussion can take a lot of time.

Councillor Don McArthur agreed that posts and ads should be that agendas are live but said he was “uncomfortable” putting administration in the position to decide what is relevant and what is not.

“That’s just a recipe for disaster,” he said. “Their job is to present the agenda in an objective manner.”

McArthur said the town does “an exceptional job” in the full-page paid ad saying what is coming up “and let’s keep that going on social media.”

Clerk Kevin Fox suggested posting QR codes and standard language to assist people in finding agendas and learning how to delegate.

Greenway trail

McArthur voiced concerns over dirt bikes on the Cypher Systems Greenway near McGregor. He asked about jurisdiction, noting there are safety concerns to walkers and cyclists and a nuisance to others. After being told it is an ERCA matter, McArthur asked for additional police patrols in the area and called for the town’s two ERCA board representatives – Allaire and Courtney – to look into the matter to get the dirt bikes off the trail.

Allaire, the chair of the ERCA board, said she will direct ERCA staff to do so.

Signage to prohibit dirt bike and golf cart usage debated by council

By Ron Giofu