The City of Red Deer should be ashamed of itself.
It has become very clear that the people who run this city have neither the ability nor the desire to contend with the amount of snow that we have had in the past month.
I am sure many of you have complained about the city’s efforts to keep our streets and sidewalks safe for its citizens.
My frustrations peaked recently, while sitting at a red light at Gaetz and 34th Street, I saw a senior with a cane attempting to scale a one-metre-high snow bank to reach the button to activate the crosswalk lights so he could cross the street.
By the time the idea to get out and help this man went from my brain to my feet, he had already fallen. I pulled my truck alongside this gentleman to offer assistance, as did two other motorists.
While one woman called 911, a woman and I covered this man with our jackets and anything else we could find in our vehicles to keep him warm.
While talking to him to see if he was OK, he told us he was 82 years old and was walking from the seniors lodge to the grocery store.
After the paramedics arrived, we helped him into the ambulance and off he went to the hospital. I hope he will be OK! I hope he doesn’t have to pay for ambulance!
Before I forget, a big thank you to the two women who stopped to help.
Afterwards, I drove directly to City Hall to complain in person. I was hoping to run into the mayor. It wouldn’t have been friendly. But on Dec. 28, City Hall was still closed for the holidays.
I hope city officials all enjoyed their extended holiday while the 82-year-old man was going to the hospital.
Where is this city’s priorities?
Outrageous amounts of money were wasted on the hideous-looking civic yards.
Plus, city council tore down the Arlington Inn and turning the area into an unplowed $1-million parking lot used by three or four cars each day.
Add to that the ridiculous canal idea and the lavish downtown parkade with the adjoining heated walkway over to the City Hall complex.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
I don’t think there is a person in Red Deer who would complain that their taxes were going up so we could see which lane we were driving in.
As homeowners, we are threatened with a fine and a possible lawsuit if someone is hurt falling on the sidewalk we are ordered to keep clear.
What about the city?
Louis Talbot
Red Deer