MOOSE JAW — Several blizzards and “snow events” hit Moose Jaw this winter, prompting residents, businesses and the municipality to deposit loads of snow at the snow dump across from the Yara Centre.
The melting of that snow, however, has left behind another mess that city hall may have to clean up.
Coun. Jamey Logan asked about that drop-off location during city council’s May 26 regular meeting, saying he drove by the field recently and discovered that it “was kind of a terrible mess with odds and ends, with parking curbs and street signs” and other miscellaneous materials in the field.
He wondered if city administration had a policy about cleaning up that venue and when that would happen.
“… I’m hoping we can get that cleaned up. … the grass was starting to grow up and I was worried it would kind of get lost (among other priorities),” Logan added.
Bevan Harlton, director of operations, replied that this issue was not on his department’s radar, so he would look into it and provide a follow-up answer.
A pile of fire hydrants
City hall has blocked off a stretch of Sixth Avenue Southwest for its cast iron replacement program, which prompted Coun. Heather Eby to inquire about an unexpected piece of infrastructure she noticed.
Eby said she passed by that street recently and saw how “beautifully” crews had staged the equipment and supplies behind a fence. However, she also noticed a pile of new fire hydrants on a pallet, something she hadn’t seen before with such projects.
“Do we (install) new fire hydrants in every area that we are doing cast iron (or) infrastructure renewal?” she asked.
Harlton replied that that is something city hall does with these initiatives. He explained that when staff design projects to replace cast iron pipes and other road features, they also look at the radius that a fire hydrant serves an area, whether it’s in a residential, commercial or industrial area, and whether more hydrants need to be installed.
Downtown washrooms
Eby also asked administration for an update on a notice of motion she submitted last October about installing public washrooms in downtown Moose Jaw, along with the costs and the sources of funding to support such a project.
Residents had suggested the idea of installing a downtown washroom during a public meeting last July, although that idea didn’t arrive at council’s table until the fall via Eby.
Eby pointed out during the council meeting that it had been seven months since her request — she had wanted the report for the 2025 budget discussions — and wondered when city administration planned to provide more information.
City manager Maryse Carmichael replied that she had just discussed that topic with the director of community services, who expected to produce a report for council soon.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, June 9.
