Councillors plug tailpipe on muffler business

The following is SooToday.com's live coverage of tonight's meeting of Sault Ste. Marie City Council.

Local citizen Jay Barban (shown) was presented tonight with the City of Sault Ste. Marie's Good Samaritan Award, bestowed on individuals who render assistance to others in distress without thought of reward or personal gain.

To read what Barban did, please click here.

Councillors plug tailpipe on muffler business

City Council tonight ended the dream of former Saultite Kim Ledger to establish a muffler installation and repair shop at 2643 Great Northern Road.

The City's planning staff recommended rejection of Ledger's rezoning application, arguing that the area north of Fourth Line should preserved as wilderness.

Concern was also expressed about the potential for environmental spills at the property, which is within the City's groundwater recharge area.

In addition, planning staff warned about the effect of faulty muffler noise on the nearby Glenview Cottages and Trailer Park.

Glenview owners Larry and Colleen Powshik accused Ledger of opening her Monster Muffler business illegally in April of this year, and of ignoring a City order to cease operations by June 11.

Citing a recent SooToday.com article about a recent crackdown on noisy engine-revving downtown, the Powshiks said that Monster Muffler specializes in exhaust systems for street rods, stock cars and rally cars.

Those, the Powshiks said, are exactly the kind of vehicles that are creating law enforcement problems in the City's core.

Council defers decison on new cab stand, bus terminal

Council will wait a month before deciding whether to allow Alagash Investments Ltd. to move the local Checker Cab stand and Greyhound bus terminal to the former St. Mary's School site at 455 Albert Street West.

The decision was made after neighbours expressed concern that Council might be giving up on the Little Italy neighbourhood, allowing both the new truck route and the Alagash development, which would also a include a restaurant, courier service, garage and refueling facility.

The rezoning application will be dealt with by Council at its August 30 meeting.

To see what Alagash's proposed development would look like, please click here.

A neighbourhood meeting will be held prior to that date to hear ratepayer concerns.

Checker Cab and Greyhound Canada are currently located at 73 Brock Street near the Bay Street Tim Horton's.