Regina councillor pushing for poor roads to be fixed faster

Some streets in Regina seem more like an obstacle course than a road surface, but one city councillor is trying to change that.

Coun. Barbara Young said she’s going to bring forward a motion on road construction at the Regina city council meeting Monday.

“This has been a big problem and it’s been the biggest problem that I’ve had as a councillor for the last six years,” she told 980 CJME last week.

A report is expected Monday with some suggestions on how road construction priorities can be changed.

Young noted, however, the suggestions would only solve the problem of poor-rated roads in 36 years.

“The report itself states that it doesn’t meet the goal,” Young said.

The councillor’s motion will send the report back with some suggested amendments.

“The amendment asks for a new plan, and suggests that the one per cent mill rate fund be dedicated to poor roads until we have brought them up to an acceptable standard,” she said.

“But it also calls for a budget for maintenance. A lack of maintenance is what put us in the condition we’re in with the residential roads, so we want both to be funded.”

Young said in that case, maintenance funds would come out of the regular budget.

The councillor added the motion would also suggest making water main and underground structure breaks a higher priority.

She said she would ask for the new report with the amendments to come back by the time council gets down to new budget discussions.