This section of Tremblay Street going towards the lake could be closed. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

road closure

Plan to close public road in La Ronge for private company stalls

May 23, 2019 | 1:58 PM

Plans by La Ronge councillors to close a public street and lease part of it to a private company abruptly changed after opposition by nearby land users.

The first reading to enact a bylaw to close Tremblay Street didn’t happen after representatives from Carlson Fish Products raised concerns about what the plan would entail. Council was moving to close the street after it was found KTF Properties erected a fence on public land without permission and doing so would allow the company to keep it up.

“So, you’re modifying everything to accommodate one person who broke the bylaw?” Mary Carlson asked councillors. “To me, you should enforce your bylaw and have him remove his fence.”

The section of street council planned on closing provides public access to Lac La Ronge and is close to where Carlson Fish Products has a dock. Carlson stated it’s important the family business is able to continue accessing the dock, adding the area set to be leased to KTF Properties would infringe on the dock space. The dock is used for hauling fish and loading supplies to be taken to fishing camps.

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Carlson also stressed the family has maintained the road throughout the years with large improvements in 2012 and 2018.

“We also want to bring to your attention there’s a lot of natural habitat that hangs around in that space, she said. “We keep our docks away from there because there’s lots of animals that frequent that area.”

Tom Carlson also attended the meeting and shared his frustration about never being informed of the plan to close the street and lease it. His family has used the shore for more than 60 years and he said it would have been good if someone informed them about it before it reached this stage. Tom Carlson also noted he would never want to see the road closed and access restricted to the public.

“I don’t want to see anymore accesses closed to the lake,” he said. “There shouldn’t be any discussion here. The town has bylaws. It is a public reserve, it is a street. Ehy did someone build a fence on a public reserve and a street?”

Council ultimately decided not to go ahead with beginning the process of closing and leasing the street, and directed administration to consult with stakeholders.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno