The newly elected city council will be focusing on gravel road maintenance when it comes to budget time after a motion was passed on Monday night during the regular city council meeting.
Coun. Crystal Froese put forward the following motion:
“That city council prioritize an increase in funding for gravel road maintenance, repair, and dust control in commercial areas and that this be considered during the 2025 budget deliberations.”
In speaking to her motion, Froese said there were two areas of concern for her. The first area was Stadacona Street going across Thatcher Drive.
“This is a commercial area, and they have consistently had issues with the road deteriorating but also with dust,” Froese explained.
The second area of concern for her was Caribou Street East from 11th Avenue, where residential transitions to commercial and the road goes from gravel to paved before merging onto Highway 1.
“Both of these have inconsistent road conditions and they create ongoing challenges for businesses, residents, and commuters,” she said.
She added that dust control impacts the air quality, working conditions, and customer experience for businesses and the well-being of residents.
Although the motion was about just maintenance, Froese was hoping that it will eventually lead to putting gravel roads within the paving program. She especially pointed out Stadacona because it turns into gravel, crosses a paved road (Thatcher Drive), and turns into gravel again.
“For some reason along the way, that one whole block has never been paved. So, it makes no sense why this has never been paved. I’m hoping along the way we will look at including that in the budget but for now, I’m just asking for enhancements to these gravel road areas,” Froese commented.
Coun. Jamey Logan spoke in support of the motion. He said when he sat on the Moose Jaw Humane Society board, they were often complaining about dust and it being unhealthy for the animals that were housed in the yard.
He added that Stadacona Street’s gravel road needs a lot of attention, at least for dust control, and it has been communicated regularly.
Coun. Dawn Luhning was also in support of the motion. She said gravel roads have been an issue for a number of years and it needs to be addressed in the upcoming budget and that the new council seriously looks at gravel roads.
She also wondered if it was worth opening the Local Improvement Program (LIP) to consider paving options down the road.
“I remember years ago one of the previous councillors was amazed that the City of Moose Jaw had gravel roads within its boundaries and I remember thinking at the time that we have been dealing with it for a long time,” Luhning said.
Coun. Kim Robinson said he was glad Froese brought up the eastern part of Caribou Street. He said he’s received a number of calls from businesses in that area specifically around dust. He agreed with Luhning that the next council should look at paving long-standing gravel roads.
Coun. Doug Blanc supported the motion, recalling this summer when Coteau Street was closed and traffic was diverted to Lillooet and a lot of traffic went up Fifth Avenue Southwest right between Empire and residents. He also noted the 900 and 1000 blocks of Hochelaga Street East are bad for dust.
“There are a variety of locations and I know we can’t afford to pave them all but I think we need to look at some of the high-priority ones and clean some of them up so that it helps our businesses,” Blanc said.
Mayor Clive Tolley asked about an amendment to the motion as it only specified commercial areas and not residential. Froese said she would not amend the motion as it was just a starting point for the new council and the priority should be on the commercial side of things.
Coun. Heather Eby asked if, when a road is paved for the first time, whether it had to go through a LIP. Director of Financial Services Brian Acker said city council has the prerogative to pave roads and fund it 100 per cent, just the city’s position has always been to go to a LIP first.