A local farmer presented the idea of a task force to council during Wednesday morning's meeting. 

Brent Oswald presented the idea of a citizen task force to all of council which would work to assist public works with water issues. An impromptu meeting was held about two weeks ago on the same topic.

Oswald says the purpose of the meeting was to suggest a way to work together more efficiently in order to reach common goals in improving infrastructure. He adds he feels the rural road situation is getting worse and a 3,5, or 10-year plan should be made going forward.

Councillor Laurent Tetrault explains during the meeting how the municipality has improved over the years and the road and drainage systems are much more effective than 30 years ago.

"Building a better municipality is extensive and a never-ending story and, above all, we need determined council's to make it happen. Past and present councilors have dedicated a lot of their time and energy in building a better municipality."

Tetrault counts improvements in the municipality including paving rural roads such as Borland, Kokomo, Carriere, and St. Joseph, also installing natural gas in rural areas so farmers can dry their crops, huge improvements in drainage, helping to build a road between PR 303 and Zhoda, and upgrades to PR 302 and 303.

Reeve Lewis Weiss says he thinks there were good points made during the hearing.

"I remember growing up in the Fridensfeld area in the '60's and '70's. There were floods there every year, and you just don't see that anymore. The roads were so rough, I can remember hauling cars with my father and the radio fell out of the vehicle because the roads were so rough."

Tetrault says spring and frost boils come every year and the municipality has improved over time with knowledge and expertise.

"Is there more work to be done? Certainly. Certainly. And it's a daily thing, it's a monthly thing, it's a yearly thing and we try to improve."

Weiss adds it's an expensive world and council is trying to upgrade roads and drainage in the municipality where need, while also trying to hold the line on taxes.

CAO Anne Burns gave the suggestion, Oswald and any community members who had an issue they would like to bring to council's attention would be able to sit in on the public works meeting and speak, upon request prior to the meeting.

Weiss says he likes it when residents come to express their concerns and bring pictures or video to better explain their situation.

Deputy Reeve Darrell Unger notes there is rough $750,000 to spend on road improvements per year and it costs approximately $250,000 to improve one mile. He gave Oswald the opportunity to pick three miles he would like to see improved and present it at the next public works meeting.

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