O'Flaherty Crescent should have 'new' playground this fall

By Craig Westcott/March 24, 2023

The contract has been let and the equipment has been ordered, but it will likely be this fall before children in the O'Flaherty Crescent area will get to enjoy their refurbished playground.

Council called the tender to supply and install the equipment back in February and on Tuesday awarded the job to the lowest qualified bidder, Emco, for $25,610, HST included. Three other companies also bid the work.

"You may remember the playground on O'Flaherty Crescent last year was closed off or boarded up for a little bit because of damages and need of replacement," said councillor Jim Locke, who introduced the motion to award the contract. "This particular tender is to replace those pieces of equipment there.”

O'Flaherty Crescent is located off a quiet side street between busy Old Placentia Road and the area housing Mount Pearl Intermediate and Mount Pearl Senior High.

After council approved the contract, Mayor Dave Aker asked public works director Glen Dollimount about the timeline for the work. "It takes time to get the equipment in and I think traditionally we've done this in late summer or early fall," Aker observed. "When can the residents of that area expect to see that playground?"

Dollimount said the last time his department spoke with Emco, they were told the equipment was expected in around the latter part of June or early July. 

Confirming Aker's observation, the director said staff like to schedule that kind of work for late summer or early fall, because construction sites are usually drier that time of year and it's easier to avoid damaging the surrounding landscaping.

Alcohol free tailgate party was big success, says Aker

By Craig Westcott/March 24, 2023

This past weekend's tailgate party at the Team Gushue Complex in celebration of Paddy's Day turned out to be so good, council may make it an annual affair.

"It was great, and I just want to send kudos out to our staff who organized it,' said councillor Jim Locke. "It wasn't a huge crowd, but it grew as the afternoon went on, and all the people were dancing. It was the children who warmed my heart the most with their dancing and making up their own fun. So, thank you to the staff... we received nothing but positive feedback."

Mayor Dave Aker agreed with that assessment and suggested the City take pointers for next year.

"The more people who showed up, the more they realized it was truly a tailgate party," he added. "There were people with barbeques and grills there. The weather was really great. I'm thinking we had about 200 people there, that's a guess. It was very well received in the community, it was an alcohol free even, family-oriented it was so Mount Pearl."

Councillor Isabell Fry congratulates Mount Pearl Lions Club Senior High Speak Out winner Anna Paterson (left) and runner up Ella Morecombe (right). Speakers were asked to speak on the topic of ‘fitting in’. Submitted photo

Mount Pearl getting compliments for its snow clearing, says Locke

It's been a tougher than usual winter, weather wise, but Mount Pearl's municipal workers are coping well with the challenges, according to councillor Jim Locke, who chairs the City's Public Works committee.

"They've been quite busy over the past couple of weeks," Locke reported to council last week. “ "Our crews have been and continue to work 24/7 to clean up from the most recent weather episodes."

The work includes widening streets and sidewalks in some areas with snowblowers, clearing snow from around fire hydrants, and removing the mini mountains of snow that sometimes get stacked in cul-de-sacs during storms. 

"We're received numerous compliments for the snow clearing operations from residents in various parts of the city," Locke said. "I know we had some hiccups when we had freezing rain and quick temperature changes, but they were quickly addressed. So, our crews have definitely been busy and we're pleased with the work that they're doing."

Locke said the department is also committed to keeping the City’s outdoor rinks operational. They were put out of commission for a while because of the mix of snowstorms mingled with spates of heavy rain that hit the Avalon in February.

"Our trail grooming is ongoing," added Locke. "I was out for a walk a couple of days back and had the pleasure of meeting one of our employees driving the groomer and again he mentioned the compliments he gets from all the walkers. They do a great job on the trails around the city."

Road maintenance is also ongoing as much as possible, Locke said.

"We're not doing any major road work, but with the freezing and thawing  we get these potholes that quickly appear," he said. "If there's some significant potholes brought to our attention, our crews will certainly be out working to repair those where possible."

And finally, Locke noted that thanks to the leak detection system the City implemented several years ago, Mount Pearl residents are among the lowest water users in the province and probably in Canada per capita. "We've been very aggressive with our leak detection," he said, noting a benefit of that is that it helps the water levels at the regional supply at Big Bulls Big Pond stay at a good height.

Mayor Dave Aker asked Public Works director Glen Dollimount to pass on the thanks of council for doing such a good job of coping with four seasons worth of weather in one month.

Must be February - Canada Post draws fire again

By Mark Squibb/February 24, 2023

Councillor Bill Antle invoked the mantle of former councillor Lucy Stoyles in calling down condemnation on Canada Post during this week’s public council meeting in Mount Pearl.

With Stoyles now serving in the House of Assembly, it fell to someone else in the chamber to take up the annual winter campaign to remind Canada Post to play by the rules when it comes to snow clearing and other issues.

“Councillor Lucy Stoyles would always bring up Canada Post, and I think every one of us got a call this week about Canada Post not plowing their mailboxes,” said Antle, who asked Director of Public Works Glen Dollimount, who is also the City’s Canada Post liaison, to speak to the matter.

“We’re constantly back and forth with Canada Post with concerns over the snow clearing issue,” Dollimount admitted. “As recently as today I’ve received an e-mail from my contact with Canada Post. They’ve acknowledged that there were some concerns over the past snow events and they’re adamant that they’re going to improve the services on a go-forward basis. So, again, we’re trying to maintain a (good working) relationship with Canada Post.”

Dollimount said the end goal is for Canada Post to clear the areas around the super mailboxes correctly, as it is not the City’s responsibility.

He said any concerns should be brought to him directly, so that he can pass them along to Canada Post.

Antle said he’s seen operators pushing snow from around the mailboxes out into the middle of the public road.

“If a private resident did that, they’d be getting a ticket,” said the councillor.

The discussion arose out of a larger discussion, mostly positive, about the City’s own snow clearing efforts.

Councillor Chelsea Lane did point out, however, that she has been getting some complaints from people about their neighbours throwing snow into the street. Lane said that creates hazards for people, including seniors and children, who have to clamber over large icy blocks of snow that harden when temperatures go below the freezing point.

“I understand it can be difficult when you are shovelling to try to throw the snow high enough, especially when we have a large amount,” she said. “But we all have to be accountable. With snow clearing, while much of it is the responsibility of the City, you also have responsibility too to your neighbours and to yourself to make sure that when you are clearing your driveway that you are doing it properly. There’s no rhyme or reason for you to be throwing snow onto the sidewalks and into the roads.”

Brandon Mullins left, and Jeremy Schwartz, both with the City, prepare a warming pit for the residents and visitors attending the party. Craig Westcott photo

Stan Nochasak of Nain, Sophie Augnatok, also of Nain, centre, and Solomon Semigak of Makkovik opened the Winter Block party hosted by the City of Mount Pearl at Centennial Square last Saturday with some traditional Inuit drumming and songs. Craig Westcott photo