A Red Deer resident is not happy with the City of Red Deer’s response to an unsightly mess next to her property.
A brick neighbourhood entrance sign, located on the north side of Rosedale Meadows and right across the street from Scotty’s Esso, was heavily damaged in December when someone driving a stolen truck ran into it and then took off. The roads may have been icy at the time.
Robin Connor, whose house is right beside the sign, wants the mess cleaned up. Part of it, a large broken cap from the wall, is on the ground beside her flower beds.
She said she has been in contact with the city twice.
The first time, she said the city told her that nothing could be done until the snow was gone so they could inspect the damage.
And the last time, about three weeks ago, she was told someone would get right back to her. As of Monday morning, she still hadn’t heard back from anyone.
Connor said she was initially told by the city that the work would begin in the spring on the damaged wall.
When the Advocate spoke with the city on Monday morning, a Communications Department spokesperson said the repairs couldn’t be done until the end of summer.
“I’m not impressed,” said Connor.
“I was told that they would be here before spring or by spring to clean it up, and this great big concrete capper is encroaching on my planter box.
“You know what ticks me? If it was a lawyer or one of the city council members, or even the mayor who lived here, something would get done right away I’m sure. That’s what gets me mad.
“Even if they had a city truck come and clean up the concrete and haul it away, at least it would tidy the ... appearance up.”
Later Monday morning, it seemed that the city may have decided to at least go to the damaged site and try and do just that.
Greg Sikora, Public Works Department manager, said that the city was trying to pick up some of the pieces and stack them so mowing can happen and to give the site some order.
Part of the problem is that some of the pieces are very heavy, and using machinery to lift them could cause further damage.
The city is hoping that whoever does the work will be able to reuse the brick. The feature brick comes from southern Arizona and if more has to be ordered, it could take some time.
It really depends on contractor availability and the source of the materials, Sikora said.
“If they can get it done in June, that would be great.”
There’s also precast elements involved, such as the cement caps, and if the foundation was disturbed, excavating would be required, Sikora said.
“I’m quite sure it will be costly.
“We don’t want to drag this out any longer than we need to. We want to get this fixed and resolved,” Sikora said.
Feature entrance signs built by developers are eventually turned over to the city for maintenance and upkeep.
Dean Krejci, the city’s chief financial officer, said he hadn’t seen any cost estimates on the wall repair yet. Because the truck was stolen, he said the city is unable to get any compensation from the insurers of the truck.
barr@www.reddeeradvocate.com