Councillor Rennie to Woodlands County Council on the condition of Range Road 120, “you need to come and drive on that road and you will know right away that this is not acceptable.”

During the June 2, 2020, Woodlands County Council meeting, Councillor Jim Rennie went to bat for the residents that live along Range Road 120. At the last May meeting, he asked Administration to investigate dust control measures for the road. Director of Infrastructure Andre Bachand said that the 2020 budget was approved with zero dollars towards the Dust Control Program and that the cost to apply dust control to Range Road 120 would be between $20,000 and $25,000. He then cautioned Council, saying that if they approved the dust control for one road, there could likely be future requests by ratepayers to have it applied to other roadways. 

“I respect the fact that maybe others will ask for dust control on their roads, but the facts are that this is probably the most densely populated road in all of Woodlands County that has a gravel surface and we can’t leave it as it is. It is not acceptable for the safety of the people that live in that area. These measures are not going to make it like you are driving on asphalt; it is just going to make it so that it is safe. If anyone questions my request for this topic to be on today’s agenda, you need to come and drive on that road, and you will know right away that this is not acceptable. The only saving grace is that most school buses are not on it right now because there is no school. If they were on it, it would really be rough for those poor kids.”

Kusch agreed. “I have relatives that live down that road, and it’s actually really bad. When you get a few vehicles on it, you just about can’t see anything. My only concern right now is just the extra cost.” While several members agreed with Councillor Rennie’s frustrations, he did not receive a single vote in favour aside from his own. Seconds after the vote was defeated, and before Mayor Burrows could move to the next item on the agenda, Councillor Rennie turned on his microphone and kicked things up a notch. 

He said that in twenty years he has not had as many calls concerning all the other roads in the County put together as he has recently received about Range Road 120. He did not mince words. “I would like to make a motion that within the next 48 hours every other councillor goes and drives on the road, and we can have a special meeting at the end of this week to discuss it.”

He added that he did not want it grated before the 48 hours were up. “If they go and grate it and we drive on it the same day, it’s not going to be the same.” Administration reported back minutes later to say that the grater had already completed the first half kilometre. They offered to pull it off the road, but Councillor Rennie asked that they not do that. He noted that Administration had told him they had a plan for fixing roads but that when he asked what the plan was for making Range Road 120 better, he said they did not have one. “That’s not an acceptable answer,” Councillor Rennie replied. He then made a motion to have everyone drive on it.

Councillor Govenlock chimed in. “I’m a little disappointed that he thinks a motion can compel each councillor to go drive Range Road 120. It is a standard practice that everybody must see the same thing at the same time for it to have any validity. For one councillor to go out at one time and do a drive would be a waste of resources and time so, I certainly would be opposed to that expectation.”

Councillor McQueen joined the conversation and said that he understood the frustrations but added that his constituents have their own issues. “We might not have the traffic on ours, but some of them are just one-way roads too, and basically the only way they are getting down it is with their tractors. I know where you are coming from, and I see the frustration from you, but I have no idea where we will pull out the cash to fix this the way it should be.”

After hearing from other members of the council, Councillor Rennie changed up his motion a bit in hopes that he could convince them to see the road in person. “Let’s all pick a time, and we can meet in our vehicles, and we can drive out in a convoy and see the road.” Mayor Burrows acknowledged the issues. “Range road 120 is a problem road, but we have lots of problem roads that are in the municipality. This issue is only going to get dealt with if we end up with a plan to repair the roads long-term and try to get things into a better condition overall. I am told that Administration is working on a plan like that. Let’s ask them. Is that the case? Are you working on that plan,” he inquired?

Director Bachand said that they are working on service levels to present to Council but said, “every time we make a change to the budget, those service levels change. We hope to get that to council relatively soon, within the next six weeks or four weeks even.” Councillor Rennie said that everyone’s concerns were legitimate and proposed one final idea to his fellow councillors. “Why don’t we get a school bus and sit everybody six feet apart on it, and let’s go drive those other roads too?”

He said that seeing other troublesome roads in the County is only fair. “I admit, I shouldn’t be commenting on a road that I haven’t gone on, so why don’t we all go and see the same roads at the same time? Let’s get some action going. I’m not talking about smooth roads or convenience or short cuts. I am talking about this not being safe, and we need to have a plan in place. We might sit on a school bus all day, but let’s do it sooner rather than later.”

He then made a new motion for Administration to set up a day soon for all of Council to go together and view the problem roads. Usually, Woodlands County Council would make such a trip each year, but due to COVID-19 measures, they were not able to yet. It may have taken four different motions, but determination and a willingness to work together helped Councillor Rennie’s motion successfully pass.