LAC LA BICHE - Lac La Biche County council chambers will be hosting two delegations supporting and opposing the proposed downtown streetscape at a special meeting on the morning of Thursday, Jan. 27.
Designers of the plan, which will see underground utilities replaced, new sidewalks installed, along with new streetlights and architectural improvements, including sidewalk "bulbouts" at intersections and crosswalks, will again be presenting the approved design plan to council.
The plan, which came after more than two years of consultation, surveys and public meetings, was approved by the majority of the previous Lac La Biche County council on June 22 of last year, in a vote that former municipal CAO Ken Van Buul said would make it "perfectly clear that we are proceeding with the design recommendations as presented."
Now, however, those approved designs for the overall project, which could see a price tag of $16.46 million, are being contested by some current county council members and a group of downtown business representatives.
The opposition to the plan includes concerns over the sidewalk 'bulbouts' and a one-way traffic flow slated for 101 Street past the IGA. Overall costs of the project are also now raising concerns by local business owners.
Watch
Representatives of the design team and downtown merchants are expected to be at the meeting, which begins at 10 am, and will be live-streamed in accordance with COVID 19 measures inside the occupancy-restricted public gallery. The livestream link can be found HERE.
The special meeting will also include other council business including a request by councillor Darlene Beniuk to discuss a Code of Conduct Issue and a Personnel issue.