County Reverses Decision on Closure

Head, Clara and Maria

By Tim Ruhnke

Lita Therrien knew she needed to present a strong case to county council last Wednesday, and that's just what the reeve of Head, Clara & Maria Townships did. Therrien challenged a proposed county by-law that objected to a proposed road allowance closing that involves a small section of the Bronson Road in Stonecliffe.

Members of the county's roads and bridges committee decided that the townships' by-law should not be allowed because "the reduction in the road allowance width from 66 feet to 46 feet is not in the best interests of the public and the municipality."

But in a lengthy response to the committee's recommendations, Therrien assured county council that the best interests of the community were paramount in the decision made by townships council.

Therrien, who was speaking out during open debate for the first time at county council, provided other county reeves with background and Head, Clara & Maria's rationale for its decision.

As a result of her presentation and subsequent debate, a break was called so that committee members could meet and evaluate the information presented by Therrien.

When council reconvened, the committee reversed its original decision and the county's opposition to the proposed road allowance closure was deleted. Following the meeting, Therrien told the NRT she was "somewhat stressed" by having to speak out on the issue, but such anxiety will not be a problem in future debates. "It will never bother me again," she said. Therrien pointed out that she only became aware of the committee's decision to oppose the townships' by-law two days before county council was to meet.

She said there just happened to be a roads tour planned for the next day, and that enabled her and other members of council to re-evaluate the position they had taken.

"No one would change their vote ... what we're asking for is good and fair," Therrien told county council. The reeve acknowledged that townships council may have been remiss in not providing the roads and bridges committee with additional details on the proposed closing and the unique situation that was involved. She also praised the committee and county council for going back and reviewing the issue, a fact that Therrien said supports her belief that "anything can be reversed if the argument is there."

But Therrien received praise from members of county council who were impressed by the way she handled herself and presented the case for the townships.

"If this is your debut, I'd hate to see you when you're seasoned," said county warden Milton Stevenson.