As with any municipal government, the Town of Hay River often deserves both criticism and praise.
First, the criticism.
Just last week, we found out the town very likely won't get around to upgrading a pedestrian walkway on the Super A service road.
That's despite the fact that the current walkway was often discussed by council last fall, with some councillors calling the situation "dangerous."
Currently, the walking lane is indicated by a line on the east side of the pavement.
Last fall, councillors expressed concern that many vehicles access and leave businesses on the east side of the road SA国际影视传媒� including by backing out over the walking lane.
Yet, despite almost a year having passed, it looks like SA国际影视传媒� unless some apparently unplanned work happens very quickly SA国际影视传媒� the dangerous situation will remain for another winter.
That doesn't really seem acceptable, unless the situation on the ground has improved and gotten less dangerous for some reason.
Unfortunately, not only has it not improved, it has very likely gotten more hazardous. That's because the GNWT has built a crosswalk on the Mackenzie Highway at the south end of the Super A service road. So it seems possible that more people will be crossing the highway on foot, and they very often may also be walking on the service road.
Work to improve the pedestrian walkway on the service road may have to wait until next spring, even though town council last fall accepted an estimated cost of $140,625 to build a 2.5-metre addition on the west side of the road, and add signage and traffic barriers.
It seems bizarre that the town will allow a self-proclaimed dangerous situation to persist.
And again, it cannot be said too often that councillors themselves described the situation as dangerous.
A decision not to proceed with work this year SA国际影视传媒� that is if work on the service road was even actively considered this year SA国际影视传媒� is more than a bit bewildering.
It is even more bewildering considering how active the town has been with various projects this summer, apparently more so than in years.
And here's the praise.
There have been many noticeable improvements to the town's infrastructure.
Streets are getting patched, McRorie Road has been paved, sidewalk work is being done, Porritt Landing is being upgraded, trails are being paved, and more.
And, of course, the new recreation centre is getting closer to completion.
The town has to be recognized for making all those improvements. (Of course, there is no need to actually congratulate the town for the improvements, because its job is to do such things.)
So it seems kind of odd to criticize the town for one project that is not being done, when so much is being done to improve the community.
However, despite all the good things that are happening in Hay River, we cannot get away from the fact that a potentially dangerous situation SA国际影视传媒� again, we stress that is how council itself described it SA国际影视传媒� is being allowed to continue.
We just hope the situation remains just potentially dangerous, and that potential is never fulfilled.
