Discussions

Just wondering why the highways department doesn’t cut weeds and grass in the centre meridian and the four triangle islands at the intersections. People that are coming to Brandon or just passing thru must think this place must not care. The triangle islands at each light are full of weeds and grass and looks terrible (don’t know why they put a tons of rocks in there and bushes in the centre that was the most stupidest idea ever.

don't care about looks  
 
want the road fixed instead including the side streets  
 
think 99.99% of people couldn't care less about tall weeds or grass.

I must be part of that 0.01% then because I was thinking the same thing.

I notice every time I drive that stretch of highway-they need to resurface the road.  
 
I haven't noticed weeds and such.

Also part of the 0.01%. Eye sore for sure. Surely they can multi task and cut the medians and repair the road surface. But then again how many months did it take to "patch" the pot holes on 18th street?!

I was just thinking that the other day as I drove by. All those rock piles that are full off weeds just need a good application of round up. And definitely that stretch needs some repairs to the road as well

The city of Brandon had people using propane torch burning it. They worked at it for days. A jug of round up you would be done in a half day not all week like last year. What did that cost tax payers?

It's a carcinogen and a danger to people using it.  
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/24/business/roundup-settlement-lawsuits.html

We drove past those intersections yesterday and commented on the disgraceful condition of them . That Foxtail grass is a noctious grass and needs destroyed . But "oh well , it's only Brandon so why bother ". Come on Highways , clean it up !

from the Dept of Highways in a smaller community in Manitoba. That community had a highways department that once consisted of 9 employees to carry out the various tasks (grading, snow plowing, small road repairs, grass cutting, etc) required but as people have retired/moved to other locations, the Pallister government has not replaced those workers. When he retired last week, he was one of 3 employees left to do all of the work. So if the Brandon Highway's dept is staffed/run the same way, I have no doubt there is simply no time for things like this.

I thought the same the other week as I drove by it. I thought visitors won't want to stop in Brandon as it is with our COVID counts, now to add the run-down look.

Looks terrible. Always comment on every year. Even our relatives from out of town mention.

Since we have programs that have clubs, community groups or volunteers that clean up our ditches.... Perhaps it's time to have a group switch from garbage bags to weed-wackers. If Brandon wants to maintain their community pride, it's time for us to take charge in the matter ourselves, rather than to complain and hope the Highways will do something. It's very likely volunteers would do a better job in taking care of the ditches, median and traffic islands than unappreciated provincial employees. Maybe the city or perhaps an rental company could loan the stuff ( vehicles, mowers & wackers), one of the gas stations would provide the fuel for the equipment and perhaps all of the property owners would put in their own effort in managing the ditch in front as well. Who says it has to be all done by the Highways department? Let's set up a community group through one of our City organizations and get it done ourselves.  
 
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.  
 
Edited by snowman5, 2020-09-01 13:04:11

With the people who say that it doesn't matter to them and prefer to have good pavement with no potholes, etc. Now, if the grass and weeds are so tall that it's become an visual obstruction to seeing traffic, that would be a different case. Manitoba does have a deficit and most people don't want to pay higher taxes either. So, if it really bothers some people that much, why not look into volunteering to do it yourselves? Some, if not all of those complaining must own a lawnmower and a trimmer.

Almost the same thought at the same time. Yeah, I have lived in communities where the local government doesn't cut the grass on public right of ways. The residents just do it themselves, voluntarily.

I think the modern mindset is that most of us looks at others to do whatever to benefit the community. And what we get is poor results from people that get paid, but don't care. So many want stuff done but will neither help or pay for to be done. Should one person use his/her own mower and trimmer to do both side of a three kilometre stretch of highway? No ...Well, maybe... Look at the results to functions like 'Scare Away Cancer'. One family and their friends took an idea for fundraising and made it huge, bit by bit, year by year and it grew. It took one person to follow through and start doing something. But there are so few of them. Why? ...Because no one wants to get involved and then held committed almost indefinitely. I'm the same way, sometimes. People needed in the parent council for one of my kids sport? ...I'll pass,thank you. However, there are times I'll say "Oh, why not? Sure, I'll give it a shot." And there times I'll just take it upon myself to do something 'spur of the moment'. Like sitting at the light on Kirkcaldy, putting in park, getting out and pulling a three foot weed from the median & tossing it in the back of the truck. Because I couldn't stand looking at it anymore. That should be our new attitude. Don't complain, do something. I have rentals in the University area, the back lanes are awful. But if I have time with the mower... I'll run the thing down the fence line of a couple of neighbours. It's not my job, but it's now done. It shouldn't feel wrong or strange to get out there and just get something done for no other reason than to make it better. My dad mowed the ditch all his life. It wasn't his to mow or his responsibility, he did it because it looked better all the while it proved beneficial to us. Our neighbours started do it as well. No one asked the Highway or the Municipality to have it done or get their permission. Right or wrong, it just was done because a few acted on it. The Trans Canada segment should be handled the same way. Get a group of folks with good intentions, have them wear safety vests and use some equipment to clean that mess up. If some group wants to "Adopt the Highway"? ...Fine. But just don't pick up a garbage and call it a day. Own up and take care of it.  
 
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

I think Round up people use as a generic term. There are other equivalents to Round Up. Farmers use folage control all the time. The railway and hydro also use control methods.

and it's generic equivalents are banned. Copy and pasted from: https://www.gov.mb.ca/sd/envprograms/initiatives/pesticide_red/pdf/faqs.pdf regarding exeptions. "The new legislation does not apply to agricultural activities (including ornamental, vegetable,and fruit gardens) , forestry activities, golf course operations, use in turf or sod farms, uses related to the protection of public health or safety such as maintaining safe conditions in road rights-of-way, railways, utility works, and transportation corridors. "