By KEVIN BERGER, Local Journalism Initiative
The RM of Corman Park will be following the province’s direction on road restrictions this spring with a few additional exemptions for the municipality’s own fleet, garbage and septic collection vehicles that hold a flat fee permit and vehicles that are considered essential to agricultural activities like milk trucks, grain trucks, feed trucks and so on.
However, in a bid to cut down on complaints from truck drivers being ticketed, the RM will also allow those trucks associated with essential agriculture activities to request a flat fee permit or to utilize a producer’s permit.
During their January 27 meeting, RM councillors passed two motions pertaining to spring road restrictions.
The first motion, which was in line with a recommendation from administration, was to restrict heavy vehicle use as per the Ministerial Order made by the Ministry of Highways, but with the exemptions for vehicles outlined above.
The second motion, which was put forward by Division 5 Councillor Arthur Pruim, was to offer some options for vehicles associated with essential agricultural use to avoid being pulled over by bylaw enforcement or the police.
As noted in a report from senior project engineer Jennifer Krasowski, the Ministry of Highways imposes road restrictions throughout Saskatchewan each year to protect infrastructure during the spring thaw.
These restrictions typically begin in March or April and run for up to six weeks. They generally prohibit heavy truck traffic on all RM roads, as well as secondary weight and 10-tonne provincial highways.
The point of these restrictions is to protect infrastructure. “Any heavy vehicle traffic during the spring thaw, even a single trip, can cause substantial road damage resulting in significant repair costs,” Krasowski noted.
However, it is recognized that restricting all heavy vehicles on spring roads would lead to major disruptions, so a number of vehicles like schoolbuses, emergency vehicles and utility trucks are exempt from the provincial order.
Though not required to do so, the RM typically follows the province’s order with some exceptions. Corman Park’s fleet of vehicles is exempted, as are organizations that hold flat fee permits like the aforementioned garbage and septic trucks.
Also, while bulk hauling is generally prohibited, the RM grants exemptions on certain occasions, like allowing contractors to complete essential or time-sensitive work.
Single trips also tend to be allowed with a permit obtained through the company Roadata, though not on roads that are in especially bad shape.
Administration recommended following the Ministerial Order but making some additional exemptions in order to offer a balance between protecting infrastructure and the RM’s strategic goals for financial accountability, service delivery and agricultural support.
As well, Krasowski presented three other options: not offering any additional exemptions and maintaining the status quo; restricting all heavy traffic not explicitly exempted by the province; and eliminating the spring weight restrictions altogether.
“This option is not recommended as it would be detrimental to the quality of the roads, would put a strain on RM resources, and is not in alignment with the RM’s strategic goals,” Krasowski said.
Pruim asked administration to clarify what vehicles are considered essential for agricultural purposes and whether they needed to acquire a permit through the RM or Roadata.
Pruim suggested having to go through Roadata on a daily basis would be very onerous for those truck-drivers, noting that the company which picks up milk in his division rolls through the area six to eight times a day.
“I get that we’re protecting infrastructure … (But) I don’t need the police in my division trying to nail these people when they’re dealing with a consumer product that has to get to the marketplace.”
Division 3 Councillor Lyndon Haduik said he agreed completely with Pruim and suggested that he provides a copy of his agricultural permit to the fuel and fertilizer trucks that service his operation.
Ultimately, Pruim suggested that they allow those trucks associated with essential ag services to utilize a producer’s permit or acquire a flat fee permit, which is calculated based on weight and distance.