Improving Northern Heath service levels is a main priority for the senior’s needs task force in 2012, coordinator Dave Price explained during his year-end update to council.
The group is collaborating with industry on demanding better health services in Tumbler Ridge, and also wants to see adequate staffing available for BC Ambulance.
While a Northern Health master planning process is now underway for Tumbler Ridge, CAO Barry Elliot said he’s still awaiting word back from an assistant deputy health minister to determine what role the district will have in the study.
The mayors task force on seniors needs was established in November 2007 as a five member, mayor-appointed task force, Price explained. Other focuses for this year will be on decreasing through-traffic in residential areas, home visitability standards and home entryway modifications, and better inter-community transportation for seniors.
Price described positive changes for local seniors in 2011, such as the completion and dedication of the 12-unit Hartford Court seniors housing complex, improved weekend hours at the health clinic, a new dentists in Tumbler Ridge, the Meals on Wheels program, town hall’s new heated wheelchair ramp and improved curb cuts on local sidewalks.
Reducing the amount of mining crew buses running through residential areas will be a focus for the group this year, said Price.
“There’s not a child in this town that qualifies for bus service to go to school†he said, adding mine workers should not expect door-to-door bus service.
The group also wants to see visitability standards – home features such as level entry, a washroom on the main floor, and a zero-step entrance – worked into new home construction bylaws. Building those features in usually costs an extra $1,000 per home for new construction, he said.
Entryway modifications that would allow for bigger front porches would also help reduce incidents where seniors slip and fall on icy section in front of their homes, said Price.
Council thanked Price for the comprehensive report, and Wren singled out the committee for special praise.
“This is the most dedicated task force I’ve worked with anywhere,†he said. “The money that’s been spent on this committee is the best money that’s been spent on any consulting in the last three years.â€
I take issue with a couple items brought up here.
A visibility bylaw standard which enforces “home features such as level entry, a washroom on the main floor, and a zero-step entrance” seems like a far reach for an issue which is based on personal preference. These are construction options which should be sought-for by home owners either during their build, or as renovations as they enter their newly purchased homes. I do understand the logic behind the thought, but it should not be a bylaw.
Entryway modifications (specifically widening) for the purpose of less icy patches makes me wonder why they’re not salted or sanded in the first place. Clearing a larger area in-front of the home will only increase the area for ice accumulation.
Lastly, while I do agree that there are many crew buses traveling through residential areas in town (as the town is 75% roughly residential area), those buses are typically seen on off hours, shift hours, when either non-mine workers are sleeping, or are themselves heading home from work. The majority of workers in this town work at the mines, and, while there should be fewer designated areas for pick-up, would you want to walk around at 5am in the cold for several blocks to wait for a bus? Parents idle their trucks for in-excess of an hour at the snowhill watching their children slide up and down, and yet a backhanded comment regarding laziness is made about shift workers and buses? Perhaps they’ll do away with buses, and every mine worker will have a company vehicle. That’ll cut down traffic, surely.
Mr Price, this is a bit late, hope you read it. Both mines ,P R C and Walter Energy DONT want anyone to drive to work. There is nowhere to park at both mines and no winter plug in,s They want you to take the bus.It would be silly to have a 20 acre marshalling yard for all workers to park their vehicles in order to ride the bus. At 30 below zero and sitting for 13 hours probably 20% wont start.Leave your vehicle at home and take the bus.