Residents of Cottonwood Bend and Cottonwood Drive in Steinbach are demanding the city take action to deal with a wide range of bad behaviour on the sidewalk that runs from Mckenzie Avenue to Cottonwood Drive. In a letter, residents say some students from SRSS, across the street, are using the area to smoke, do drugs, drink alcohol, fight and even have sex. They add the youth are being extremely disrespectful and are damaging property. The letter asks the city to close the sidewalk.

Mayor Chris Goertzen says city council has asked the administration for a full report on the matter by the end of July so it can come up with a plan of action. But he's not sure that closing the sidewalk is the solution.

"Number one, sidewalks in communities are good, they connect places, they connect people. Sometimes there are people on those sidewalks who tend to do things that we don't want to see them do. We have asked the administration to come up with a report by the end of July for council, to look at ways that this can be mitigated. That discussion will take place not only with the RCMP, but possibly with the school division as well as the neighbourhood to see if we can't come up with a solution that will make that area safer, more comfortable, yet accessible for all."

Councillor Jac Siemens made the motion to ask for the report, noting that it must be comprehensive.

"To ask the RCMP for a report on different issues that they've had to deal with at that place and also then, potentially, the Hanover School Division as these are students from the school division. Also, what liabilities are there for the City of Steinbach? And, just get an overview on what the options are and recommendations from the administration."

Councillor Michael Zwaagstra seconded the motion, agreeing this matter needs prompt attention.

"It's never acceptable when anyone disrespects someone's private property and we've certainly heard clearly that that has happened in that neighbourhood. This is something that does need to be addressed and we will certainly be looking at some options."