Steinbach city council is finding it difficult to come up with a solution to bad behaviour on the sidewalk that runs from Mckenzie Avenue to Cottonwood Drive. In June, residents outlined their concerns in a letter saying 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 and a subsequent petition asked the city to close the sidewalk.

In a report to city council this week, Chief Administrative Officer Troy Warkentin cautioned against closing the sidewalk, noting there is a storm sewer that runs beneath it. Councillor Jac Siemens agrees closing the sidewalk is not the answer.

"I don't agree that removing that sidewalk would solve the problem. There would still be a pathway there, we still have to leave it open for the infrastructure that is underground. That is why the sidewalk was installed there in the first place, to give easy access."

Councillor Michael Zwaagstra also concurs with the administration.

"In terms of the information we have and what we've heard, it's pretty clear that in closing the sidewalk, there's no guarantee that it would improve the situation, particularly since, if we were to close it, even if we were to take the concrete out, it's still a public pathway. It would just simply be an undeveloped public pathway which makes it even more private and an even higher likelihood that that becomes a convenient hideout spot."

Mayor Chris Goertzen says, in the end, council agreed to continue working with the Hanover School Division to control student conduct there, to urge citizens to call 911 every time there is a problem with bad behaviour and to ask Citizens on Patrol to help monitor the area.

"Obviously, it's not a clear solution. We want people to behave and act appropriately in our neighbourhood. One change in policy will not make that happen. A change in attitude of those people will make that happen and hopefully, we can facilitate that through these partnerships."

Goertzen adds the city will continue to monitor this situation and will respond accordingly.