Just over 60 per cent of Town of St. Paul residents opted against continuing photo radar in the plebiscite held in conjunction with the Oct. 16 election, but the decision was up to council to make on photo radar’s future, with the item coming up at the regular Oct. 30 council meeting.
Director of Protective Services Trevor Kotowich gave some history on photo radar, explaining that the Town of St. Paul had entered into a contract with Global Traffic Group to deliver photo radar services in the community, with the company spending 80 hours a month in town monitoring sites approved by the RCMP, for speed and stop sign violations. From any fines issued, 41 per cent goes to the province, 19.35 per cent goes to the town, and 39.65 goes back to the company, he said.
However, after seeing fewer speeding incidences and becoming busier with delivering services in other communities, Global, with agreement from the town, dropped down to 16 hours a week for monitoring speeding, and four hours a week for video enforcement, for stop sign violations, he said. The company has again requested another decrease, to five hours for speed, and one hour for video enforcement, Kotowich reported.
“They are saying St. Paul is a positive story for them,” said Kotowich, noting that Global Traffic had also requesting cutting back on some of the zones it monitors.
“We have not given that blessing yet,” he said, adding he was waiting for direction from council.
While noting that 60 per cent of residents had voted against photo radar, Kotowich said he recommended that council meet with Global Traffic in making a decision about how to go forward.
“Is this something we can do in-house?” asked Coun. Brad Eamon of photo radar.
Kotowich said he had researched that possibility, but it didn’t seem feasible, explaining, “It’s so cost-prohibitive, you cannot do it on your own.” However, the town’s peace officers can and do monitor traffic safety, he said.
Coun. Nathan Taylor asked how much revenue had been collected from photo radar in St. Paul; however, Kotowich said he didn’t have that information at hand.
But town CAO Holly Habiak noted that all the town revenues from the photo radar tickets had been plowed back into traffic safety measures, with the crosswalks at Extra Foods and Cornerstone Co-op entirely funded through the photo radar program.
Taylor moved to follow Kotowich’s recommendation, and have Global Traffic Group make a presentation to council, which was carried.
