Dear Editor:

From the Committee for Improved and Pro-active Highway Maintenance in Service Area #14 Nicola

The committee for Improved and Pro-active Winter Maintenance originated from public concerns as to why during a winter storm there are differences in highway surface conditions (winter maintenance) north of Lac Le Jeune on Highway #5 Coquihalla, #5A North at Stump Lake, #97C Okanagan Connector at Pennask Summit, and #5 South at Gulliford Rest Area (Merritt Area Boundaries).

These highways within Service Area #14 are not plowed and sanded to the same standards, even though the maintenance specifications are the same in all the service areas.

Many residents of the Nicola Valley are afraid to venture out on the highways to attend medical appointments, school, employment, sports events, business functions, etc.

Numerous citizens have complained to the local maintenance contractor or to Ministry employees, only to be brushed off or given numerous excuses as to why there is a lack of timely plowing and sanding.

We have managed to collect 2500 +/- signatures on our petition to date; most are from residents of the Nicola Valley. These are all citizens and taxpayers that would like to see improvement in highway maintenance.

The committee contacted and met with Trent Folk and Donalda Richie of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Manage-ment. This meeting was followed by a meeting with Bob Gilowski, owner, and Gary Zecchel, CEO, of VSA Highway Maintenance Ltd. They explained and reviewed their maintenance procedures and operations to the committee.

The lack of anyone taking a genuine interest in the concerns of the petition led to another meeting with the same Ministry management, including Mike Lorimer, Regional Director. At this meeting we reviewed the maintenance specifications that were not being met, before and during the winter storm cycles.  The committee asked the Ministry staff to review our documentation and respond accordingly.

After two weeks and numerous accidents on the local highways, the committee finally had to initiate contact with the Ministry of Highways. There was no response from them until Minister Todd Stone announced an increase in funding, and stated that he believed VSA Maintenance Ltd. was doing a good job.

Our question is, “Why would they need an increase in funding if they are doing a good job in maintaining the highways to the specifications outlined in their contract with the taxpayers?”

We feel the Minister has minimized the concerns of the committee and the 2,500 citizens that signed the petition.

This petition was not meant to criticize the VSA Highway Maintenance crews. We feel with VSA management adding additional resources to the already hardworking employees, they would be able to perform their duties in a safer work environment.

Highway maintenance contracts are written not only to ensure the highways are safe for the traveling public, but also for the crews that maintain them.

The committee has set the petition aside until next winter. Hopefully, the increase in funding as well as the concerns of the traveling public will bring about improved and proactive winter maintenance. If not we will have no other choice but to continue with our cause.

Thank you to all who supported and signed the petition.

Respectfully submitted by Mayor Neil Menard, Wayne Schindler, Earl Nygaard