Annette Gilchrist presented as part of a delegation of residents of Gypsy Lane to educate the public about the rules and guidelines of snowmobiling for the area of Gypsy Lane, near Cobden.
“The request is that you assist on educating the public on snowmobiles.” she said. “It has been our issue on our road that we have had some safety issues with snowmobiles.”
“There’s no line of sight from our driveways to the cattle path that comes off of the unopened road allowance at the end of the road. There are concerns from the safety of all the residents of our road to exit from our homes and our farms and not have to worry about snowmobiles traveling on the road where they shouldn’t be.
She said that there were three farm entrances on the road, and pedestrians who use the road, as well as potential fallen trees and rocks.
“They can’t travel in the ditches on this road, because there’s creeks that flow all year right now. It’s a skinny road, it’s the way the topography works.”
“We have also had issues with speeding, I know that’s up to the OPP to enforce, but let’s face it, they don’t have the resources to be everywhere all the time and they’ve got a wide geographic region to cover.”
She said she was concerned for “increased liability to the Township and the rate payers, and to the private landowners”.
“Renfrew County is known for its trails, we want to make sure that everyone is doing it safety.” Gilchrist said.
She said it’s about ten calls a year regarding snowmobiles.
Councillor Mark Bell asked what snowmobiles were accessing to get to the road, which Gilchrist said that the adjacent
Bell asked if they would cross Forester’s Falls road to get to Muskrat Lake, which Gilchrist informed that
Councillor Tabbert asked if the private road is marked, which Gilchrist confirmed.
Councillor Moore said he was in ‘total agreement about education, education, education’, but
Councillor Tabbert asked if Gypsy Lane had any bylaws prohibiting snowmachines on it/
“We do not prohibit snow machines on any of our roads by by-law. The message is that there is a section of the road you’re supposed to have yoru snow machine on.” he said.
“Provincial guidelines regulate We could regulate the remainder of that right away.”
The province says that “We can’t supersede that.”
“Yes we can.” Tabbert said, siting the wording of the act.
Mayor Nicholson said it would be investigated.
