Huron-Kinloss council

To Comment on this article Click Here

Huron-Kinloss council is not sure what to do about a Lucknow resident who insists on parking his tractor on the main street.

At the general committee meeting last night (June 7), Joan Pollard brought the issue forward, asking council to enact a bylaw to force the man to move his tractor. Her business, MacKenzie and McCreath Funeral Home, is located near where the man lives in an apartment.

She said it's not just the tractor that is parked on the main street (Campbell Street which is also Highway 86 running through the village), but trailers and unlicensed vehicles that are posted for sale.

"It began as a nuisance," she said, "but now it's a major problem. He drives a tractor around town and has no regard for the community. It's a hardship for local small businesses, especially if he parks in front of your place of business."

Pollard said Huron-Kinloss was able to get the tractor removed during the winter so it didn't interfere with snow removal, but with the spring weather, it's back on main street.

"We take pride in Lucknow, but it's been hard when you're the butt end of the joke: the tractor capital of Bruce County," she said.

Andy Stopford of the South Bruce OPP, said the problem for the police is that a tractor is not a motor vehicle and it's not licensed so there's not a lot they can do unless he is driving it dangerously down the street.

He said a bylaw might be the answer. However, it could be a problem for others. "This is a rural community," he said, "and farmers come through town and may want to stop on the main street."

"I've been in Lucknow for 25 years and I've never seen the situation abused except by this individual," said Pollard.

"Can you talk to the person who rents the apartment to him?" asked Stopford.

"The landowner pretends not to understand what we're talking about," said Pollard. "This man is not a farmer; he has nothing to do with the farming community."

"Maybe we can do something through our noise bylaw?" asked councillor Don Murray.

"Is there a safety issue?" asked councillor Lillian Abbott.

"What about a parking bylaw?" asked councillor Anne Eadie.

"That would not work because you'd be punishing law-abiding citizens," said Pollard.

Administrator Mary Rose Walden reminded council that it cannot just approve a bylaw - the bylaw has to be enforceable.

"How about a bylaw allowing no tractors on the main street?" asked Murray. "Most hard-working farmers would park their tractors behind the main street."

"We have better things to do than fight this," said Pollard. "He's parked there all day. It's embarrassing to have him there."

Council agreed to have staff come up with some options and present them at the next council meeting.

^{for world news, books, sports, movies ...}

Monday, June 07, 2010