ASSIGINACK—Georgie and Terry Hari of Red Lodge Road, representing the Manitou Birches Cottage Club, once again made their annual visit to Assiginack council, sharing their displeasure that after years of requesting that the road be tarred and chipped and despite the high taxes residents pay as largely waterfront landowners, the roadwork has yet to be done.
The Red Lodge Road, located along the Bidwell Road, is the dividing line between the municipalities of Assiginack and the Northeast Town with the two townships sharing in the cost and carrying out implementation of road maintenance. Residents on the south side of the road, such as the Haris, are residents of Assiginack while those on the north pay taxes in the Northeast Town.
“Nothing has really changed on our road but the new culvert, which we thank you for,” Ms. Hari began before she came out with her reason for being at the meeting. “I want to see it tarred and chipped.”
She explained that she went to see Northeast Town CAO David Williamson, who once again told her that the road was not high on the municipality’s list of roads to be done. “We want to know where Assiginack’s priorities lie.”
Assiginack has budgeted money for their portion of the work to be done where it remains in an account, waiting for the day the Northeast Town agrees to ante up its share.
Ms. Hari said she was tired of the back and forthing and said she realized that nothing would ever be accomplished if it carries on this way. “There has got to another way of doing this,” she said.
“It is so frustrating for us, and with our taxes so high, we feel we aren’t getting what we deserve,” Ms. Hari added.
Reeve Brad Ham suggested waiting for the next term of council and starting a fresh dialogue with the Northeast Town and the two road superintendents.
“NEMI has said they don’t see our area as a priority,” she reiterated flatly, noting that in previous conversations the Northeast Town had said the road would need to be built up between two and three feet before hard topping could occur while Assiginack said this was not necessary.
Ms. Hari wondered if the work could be done by Assiginack crews and then a payment scheme worked out or a ‘credit’ the municipality could use at a later date with the Northeast Town.
Councillor Brenda Reid suggested CAO Alton Hobbs look into the precedence of cases like this with the municipality’s solicitor.
“It’s not like we’re not paying for it or paying our way,” Ms. Hari said. “If we were just paying $1,000 (in taxes), we probably wouldn’t say anything about it, but we’re not. We’re paying big money and I feel we should be getting something for that.”
Councillor Paul Moffat noted that every time he sees Northeast Town Mayor Al MacNevin he brings the subject up.
Ms. Hari noted the number of people who use the road, which is also the thoroughfare, aptly named, to Red Lodge Resort.
“We’ve also put a lot of money into the Bidwell to get people there,” the reeve added.
“I have great faith that you can come up with something creative to see the work done,” Ms. Hari said.
Reeve Ham suggested roads superintendent Ron Cooper meet with the Northeast Town’s manager of public works Gary May to discuss the matter and opened the floor to Mr. Cooper.
“If you’re looking for my opinion, this is strictly political,” Mr. Cooper told council. “NEMI has done a lot of chip and tar on a lot of streets way worse than that one.”
While he would be happy to meet with Mr. May, Mr. Cooper said that he doubted it would have any affect on seeing the road done as, ultimately, the decision is not Mr. May’s.
The reason the Northeast Town said the road would have to be built up, he continued, is because of the impending McLay’s Subdivision on Lake Manitou on the Northeast Town’s side of the road, beside Red Lodge and the anticipated amount of heavy truck traffic that road would see. But now that that project has been scaled back to just six lots, at least for now, because of environmental concerns, this should no longer be an issue.
“Maybe we should ask them for a list of valid answers as to why (it hasn’t been done),” he added.
