Delegation suggests improvements at Town Council meeting

Potted plants, park benches, dedicated trees, murals, recycling bins, idling concerns, dog poop, and invasive weeds.

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

John Hancock, earlier this year
C. Davis photo

John Hancock appeared before Pincher Creek Town Council on Tuesday, October 11.  He indicated he was representing both the Pincher Planters and our local Communities in Bloom committee.  He told council there were "four initiatives we'd like your advice on."

Hancock told council the organizations were pleased with the efforts of the Downtown Merchant's Association, which saw downtown Pincher Creek made much more colorful this year with potted plants in various locations. "We'd like to see it again next year," said Hancock.  He indicated a local business had volunteered to step forward and assist businesses with their plants next year. "If it was agreeable, we've made arrangements with Perfect Posies to run a course for the merchants," he told council, explaining that one side of the street faced north and the other south, among other variables that can affect planting success.


He next asked "could the town provide benches along Main Street for pedestrians to sit down."  He explained that, for many people with mobility problems, there wasn't enough places to rest on Main Street. "We know in regards to the past, there was a problem with vandalism," he said.

The third initiative on his agenda was a loftier one. "The Canadian Government declared September 21 National Tree Day.  It's not practical in this area to plant a tree on September 21, he said.  "Can we dedicate a tree to a citizen that is worthy of dedication?"
He suggested on tree a year could be dedicated to a worthy citizen, with a plaque honouring that citizen at its base.

His fourth and final suggestion invoked the gone but not forgotten mural that decorated the now demolished Higa's Drugstore, at the northeast corner of Main Streetand Bev McLachlin Boulevard. "We would love to see the Pincher mural re-established," said Hancock.   "If a picture can tell a story, that picture did."

As a side-note, many long-time residents of Pincher Creek have said much the same thing since Higa's was demolished along with the mural in question.

"Can we involve the whole Town?" asked Hancock.  He told council that the Chamber of Commerce has agreed to act as bankers for the project.  "We've spoken to an artist who has painted several murals in town and picked out a couple of sites."

Council made little comment about Hancock's proposals, but it's likely we will be hearing about these suggestions again.

Appearing with John Hancock was Wendy Ryan, and at this point she also had some suggestions for council.
She suggested the town invest in some recycling bins, "like our garbage bins", that could be  placed around the downtown area, locked and with a slot for depositing pop cans and other similar recyclables.  She said council could designate a youth group to be responsible for emptying them and in return collecting the funds from them, "perhaps Group Group Youth",

Ryan also suggested the town install "No idling" signs at key points, to reduce carbon emissions.  She said the ski hill, where she works, had a no idling policy that was working to their and the environment's benefit. "Would you look at no idling signs in several locations?" she asked.

Her next suggestion was that council install some dog-poop pickup bag stands along the creekside trails, saying "High River put these in five years ago."  She said they would be very helpful to those that wanted to clean up after their own or other people's dogs. "It's time to move forward on our public areas and walking trails."

Her last concern was with the invasive plants in Pincher Creek.  "Invasive plants are everyone's concern," she said.  "The town does not have an invasive plant bylaw."  She said the MD is embracing the idea and "I think the town should too."  Of particular concern locally: knapweed, leafy spurge, blue weed, and burdock.