Happy trails: Fort Creek issue resolved. Nicely-nicely

Sault Ste. Marie City Council has tonight signed a contract allowing bridges to be built on the Fort Creek Conservation Area as proposed by project architects.

Mayor John Rowswell did not sign the document.

He cited professional reasons for his unwillingness to sign the contract that would authorize the bridges to be built with helical pilings rather than the solid pilings recommended by the mayor.

Tonight City Council, decided to authorize addition of a new signature page to the contract so it could be signed by Councillor 3 Pat Mick, acting mayor for April, to get the project started.

There was no discussion on the issue because the majority of councillors voted in favour of a motion from Ward 2 Councillor Susan Myers to call the question, avoiding further debate or questions.

Voting against calling the question without discussion were Councillors Lou Turco, Bryan Hayes, Ozzie Grandinetti and Lorena Tridico.

In favour of calling the question without discussion were councillors Frank Fata, Terry Sheehan, Steve Butland, Frank Manzo, Pat Mick, David Celetti and Mayor Rowswell.

Rowswell, a qualified engineer, heads his own engineering firm that specializes in bridge building.

As reported earlier by SooToday.com, in correspondence to councillors, he said the pilings proposed would be inappropriate for the soft clay-based soil in the Fort Creek Conservation Area.

The project is under a very tight deadline.

If the City fails to complete the trail by fall, it could lose funding for that section of the trail.

Work on the project could not begin until the City officially awarded a signed contract to the winning bidder.

If the work didn't begin soon, there was a real possibility it would not be completed in time, said Chief Administrative Officer Joe Fratesi.