Regarding April 3 responses to my March 20 letter by Mr. Howard Schettler ("Money for rail fence could have been used on better things") and Mr. Gordon Anderson ("A few answers for letter writer on the rail fence"):
First, to Mr. Schettler, thank you for your compliment – my letter well-written and valid quesitons asked.
In your letter, you had emphasized that the fence will not increase safety at the crossing – and whistle cessation may, in fact, bring about accidents. You set out good examples to say how.
A train, as it approaches the crossing, sounds the whistle and alerts drivers to its presence. I believe it should be the drivers’ responsibility to use good judgment in adhering to laws to prepare to slow down and stop. Anyone who tries to sneak through the tracks when a train is nearby is not smart and is presenting danger to themselves and to others. I realize we sometimes make a mistake, overlook, and we get ourselves in trouble, but if you are just attempting this because you think you can still cross – you are putting yourself in harm's way.
Now, to the whistle cessation: if the fencing was required for this, spending this huge amount of money just to fulfill the wishes of those who have brought council's attention to how the whistle has affected their health is sad and poorly reasoned.
The trains have been in existence for years and years. Whistles have always been sounded. It has been a joy, a thrill and something special just to see the train travelling along and hear its whistle – and what a special treat it was for young children (even adults) as they stood by the tracks to lift their little hands to motion for the conductor to sound the whistle – and merrily the train continued on.
Protecting and addressing safety is good policy. But here, fencing will have another effect: the train coming along will not be seen, and we will not see the other side of the tracks – its nature, beauties and much that is in place for our contentment in life.
One may think this is trivial, but I find these to be our pleasure and give meaning to life. Life should be appreciated while we may.
Mr. Schettler, I compliment you on addressing affordable housing (essential to those who need it) and spending money wisely is of everyone's concern. Money does not grow on trees. You have to work to obtain it, so we should be cautious how we spend it. We all pay taxes for the services provided to us, but council should take care to see all benefits – where money goes – remembering it is us, the taxpayer, who contributes for expenditures.
Thank you, Mr. Schettler, for writing acknowledgements to my letter.
Addressing Mr. Anderson, thank you for beginning your letter with respect to me (Ms/Miss/Mrs. – I still use Mrs.) and responding to my questions.
You have detailed in your letter that CN and CP were contending with many issues for many years and thus fencing had to be put in place to stop trespassing and bring on safety. How come I missed it – if it had been years of happening, why had it not appeared in newspapers or media news? Have I missed it somehow? It is very frustrating to understand this situation, and I understand you may not be able to please or satisfy everyone.
There are many of us who pay close attention and obey signs. Kids climbing over embankments could have been addressed as you saw them – parent involvement and awareness.Also, I am in disbelief that CN and CP could not have enforced this more strongly. I realize the fence will not be a slat fence, it has to be strong – but the cost is still a huge amount spent on something that (was it or was it not required?) I do believe, that it was meant to stop the whistle from blowing.
I wish to present a different concern as I read in the Gazette Commentary by Mr. Brian McLeod on April 6 – fatalities, accidents may happen. The cause – we do not really know what the container cars are carrying and transporting along the lines and here in St. Albert. If ever there was a derailment, we may have a disaster – this is a larger concern than the fencing and whistle that we are all overlooking. I hope this does not ever take place.
To conclude: I would like to praise our St. Albert Gazette, our local newspaper, that has everything we need for our info: news, advertisements, events and most important, the Commentary and ‘Your Views’ and the Crime Map, as given by our dedicated RCMP force. These pages, as mentioned, are there for our opportunity to voice our opinions, concerns and for others to read and perhaps to engage a conversation with others who take interesting replying, just like these two gentlemen did. To everyone at the Gazette, thank you for your good works, good presentations, for everyone to enjoy, who still read the newspaper – may you be in existence for years.
To everyone – enjoy spring, may it be filled with abundance of all the new life, new growth all around us – enjoy good health and be safe.
Mary Cienkowski, St. Albert
