ST. PAUL - Residents who live at Crestview Beach, located in the County of St. Paul, have made a list of requests for improvements in the subdivision.
At the July 27 Public Works meeting, residents submitted a letter to council for suggested maintenance and improvements in the Crestview Beach area subdivision. During the meeting, council approved a motion to install a speed limit sign before the beach area, and deferred identifying a parking area until next year.
"Crestview residents have since contacted administration and Coun. (Maxine) Fodness to possibly reconsider approving more of their suggestions for improvements at the Crestview Beach area," said CAO Sheila Kitz, during the Aug. 10 regular council meeting.
Fodness said she went and visited the area to get a better idea of possible further maintenance and improvements by the municipality.
Crestview residents are requesting a "left arrow sign" at the boat launch road to indicate parking area, which is on County owned land.
They were also asking if a swimming area could be designated in the 2022 season, and the relocation of a dock. Residents offered to install the needed materials if they were supplied by the County. Residents also asked for a portable washroom, with residents willing to maintain it.
Beach area maintenance, a bulletin board at garbage site, and two 30km speed limit signs on each side of the boat launch road were also among the list of requests put forward. The total cost of the listed improvements being requested was estimated to be just under $9,000.
The County of St. Paul has a total of 48 subdivisions within its boundaries.
Fodness spoke to fellow councillors during the Aug. 10 meeting. Speaking about the swimming area request, she noted that children do swim in one small general area, and the request to move the dock would be done in order to make the swimming area bigger.
It was noted that at the Floating Stone campground the swimming area was removed due to boats hitting it, said Tim Mahdiuk, director of Community Services. He noted that since removing the rope, adults seem to be watching kids more closely and there are generally fewer issues being seen with boats in the area. He cautioned council against doing any work to create a swim area.
It was also noted that there is lots of parking space available, and people are using an area owned by the County to park, and all that is required is a sign to show were vehicles should park.
Fodness said the group of residents making the requests are not a formal society, but she would like to encourage them to organize themselves as such in order to be able to access grant money to complete some of the projects they have in mind.
She acknowledged that there is a lot of activity in the subdivision on the weekends. A motion to approve a left arrow sign to indicate the parking area, along with the installation of a second 30km/hour speed sign, and two children playing signs, was approved by council. Administration was also directed to suggest residents form a more formal group to help them access funding.