Abbotsford residents keep complaining about Sumas Way’s ugly weed-ridden medians, and Mayor Henry Braun keeps saying that it’s not the city to maintain because it’s part of Highway 11, a provincial highway.
But that doesn’t always appease the complainer, leaving Braun to suggest the city needs to lean on the province to keep the artery in tidier shape.
At a budget meeting last Wednesday, Braun raised the issue, citing the frequent complaints, and his inevitable response.
“I have said more than I want: ‘That does not belong to us. That is highway 11. That is the province’s jurisdiction.'”
Some, he said, say the city should clean up the medians anyways.
That led Braun to wryly ask Raj Sharma, the city’s financial chief, if Abbotsford could shoulder the burden, then pass the bill on to Victoria.
“Is there a way we can do it and charge the province for that service if they won’t do it?” he asked. “Because they aren’t doing it.”
“That would be very difficult,” Sharma replied, smiling.
Braun chuckled, adding: “So I should have a chat with the Minister of Transportation.”
The issue wasn’t addressed further at the meeting.
Watch abbynews.com for more from last week’s budget meetings.
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