Lights on the school bus go flash

During a recent Town of Picture Butte council meeting Mar. 24 Mayor Wendy Jones read a recommendation to council for consideration.

The recommendation was for council to approve, by resolution, a period of time during which school bus authorities may authorize the use of flashing lights at authorized bus stops on a trial basis to allow both busing (Palliser Regional Schools) and town administration to evaluate their effectiveness.

Initially, one month was suggested for a test run but Coun. Joe Watson said he felt one month was not enough for a proper evaluation process to be initiated.

Town Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Mike Derricott added context to council regarding the initial recommended time frame of a trial run.

“Apr. 1 to Apr. 30 is completely arbitrary. There was no significance attached to that whatsoever. I just picked a time period. The reason administration wanted to go this route is — before we change our bylaw, let’s figure out what we are going to be changing our bylaw to. Giving them a period of time to try a few things, they can get a feel for it and we can observe it and then we can go back and amend our bylaw and actually have a goal in what we’re trying to accomplish rather than trying to amend our bylaw before we observe some things.”

Coun. Watson made the motion to amend the time period for the trial period from Apr. 1 to June 30.

Coun. Cathy Moore asked council, during a call for discussion, if more than a month time period is needed to figure out the flashing lights issue.

Mayor Jones also had an initial reservation about extending the time line.

“That is what I was going to suggest. A month is enough to figure it out so we can get on with our bylaw. Making a motion for three months leaves us sitting with letting it go and the bylaw not getting done until next fall,” said Jones.

“It’ll still be done in time for school next year,” added Deputy Mayor Henry deKok.

Derricott asked for Coun. Teresa Feist to chime in on the debate, as Feist is a bus driver.

“What’s the difference really from the month to two months?” said Feist.

Council passed the motion to approve a resolution for a time period of Apr. 1 to June 30, which will allow school bus authorities to authorize the use of flashing lights at authorized bus stops in the community on a trial basis for evaluation purposes.

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