Sylvan Lake News, August 30, 2012

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A rally hosted by Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Kerry Towle to talk about the Highway 11-781 intersection and plan further lobbying efforts to have it reopened to all-way traffic attracted almost 500 people last Tuesday night. STEVE DILLS

Towle volunteered to organize more lobbying, rallies on 781-11 issue by Steve Dills Sylvan Lake News

Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Kerry Towle told a cheering audience of almost 500 people that she’s going to do whatever it takes to represent residents’ views that lights are needed at the Highway 11 and 781 intersection. But she told them, at last Tuesday’s meeting in the community centre, that she needed the support of everyone in the room to convince town councillors they should be lobbying for lights at that corner. Mayor Susan Samson and town

councillors, who were not at the meeting, took the brunt of Towle’s criticism although she stressed several times she’s trying to be fair and not take their words out of context. She also indicated she’d met with Red Deer County and asked them why they’re not supporting the campaign. “It starts with the grassroots, there’s a process here,� she said. “You guys are obviously passionate, I believe there’s an easy fix. But your municipal councils, Sylvan Lake and Red Deer County are not hearing you.� Red Deer County councillor George Gehrke was at the meeting.

Noting that the cost for Memorial Trail is now up to $6.7 million, Towle said the price isn’t going to stop there. “Anybody who thinks it’s going to stop at $6.7 million is fooling themselves. “Who’s going to pay for it, you,� she said. (A letter received by the town earlier this month from Transportation Minister Ric McIver confirmed the total for town infrastructure including Memorial Trail, Memorial Trail and 50th Street intersection improvements, Fortis Alberta costs, related engineering and material testing, and contingency is $4,603,549.61. The remaining

work on provincial infrastructure will be funded for a total of up to $2,051,396.71 ‌ This includes Memorial Trail and Highway 20 intersection improvements, Highway 11 and Highway 20 intersection improvements, Highway 11 and Highway 781 intersection improvements, the traffic impact assessment, related engineering and material testing and contingency.â€? The work was all tendered earlier this year and the tender awarded based on final approval by the province. Work is underway.) Towle said she told Samson “I would not attempt to take any money away from them. What I

did say is that it doesn’t stop the fact that 781 needs to stay open. I asked her to join my fight and ask the minister to put lights at 781. I got a resounding ‘781 is no longer an issue’. “Minister McIver is in a very difficult position. He’s not going to go against the municipal government that speaks on your behalf,� Towle said. She encouraged residents to write letters and sign petitions. “I will take every single piece of paper given onto the floor of the Legislature,� Towle promised. Continued on Page 4

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