The City of Yorkton launched what its hopes will be a new avenue to communicate with citizens during the regular meeting of Council Monday.
“Various methods of communication to the public and City council have been established such as newspaper reports/advertising, website updates, e-mails, telephone conversations, etc. At the last meeting of council Mayor Maloney presented a couple of items for Public Awareness. In discussions between the City Clerk, City Manager and Mayor Maloney, it was decided that it would be beneficial to continue with a Public Awareness section in the Regular Council Meeting Agenda,” detailed a report circulated to Council.
The first Public awareness Report was then introduced by City Manager Lonnie Kaal. The items included:
• Dracup Avenue North has become a major collector street for Yorkton and the current roadway and intersection at Dracup and Darlington meets neither current nor future growth needs for the city. A number of significant dollar value options are being evaluated including widening and increasing the carrying capacity of the roadway, and a possible round-a-bout at the Dracup/Darlington Street intersection. These could be better options rather than just resurfacing the existing roadway. In addition, as major work is soon to get underway on Highway 10 East, it is not prudent to restrict traffic in two important areas of the city at the same time. Once options for the Dracup corridor have been thoroughly evaluated and work on Highway 10 East is completed, we will be moving forward with reconstruction of the Dracup Corridor.
• Highway #10 construction (from Hwy #9 in front of the Parkland Mall to Mayhew) will commence mid-July. This project includes road reconstruction, an upsized water line, pathway, and street lights. Combined with Mayhew construction (Hwy #10 to Darlington) the project is over $3.5 million. Construction is expected to last approximately two months.
• As our City’s roadway network grows, so do demands for yearly maintenance. Every year spring-time freeze/thaw cycles damage pavements and this problem gets worse as our roads age. It appears that the higher water tables have created further havoc with many frost boils apparent. Crews will be repairing potholes on a weekly basis during summer months, as able, within the budgets allowed. Larger scale projects throughout the City will continue to happen on a priority basis.
• It is that time of year where the grass and weeds are growing. In accordance with the Property Standards Bylaw – owners shall not allow their yard to be overgrown with grass and weeds. We encourage citizens to keep their property neat and maintain the abutting boulevard areas.
• Property Taxes are due June 30th and interest penalties of half of one per cent per month will be applied thereafter.
