No consensus in naming Saskatoon's new South bridge
City of Saskatoon defers motion to name bridge until November
The City of Saskatoon deferred a motion to name the South Circle Drive bridge Monday.
They couldn't come to a decision on what to name it -- or how to go about naming it.
The city is contemplating having a bridge naming contest, but Mayor Don Atchison said he opposed that idea.
He said it would cost taxpayers $30,000. He said he would rather use that money reaching a deal with the locked out transit workers, controlling property taxes, keeping the city safe or improving roads.
Councillor Pat Lorje says she doesn't believe the city should have a naming contest either, but mostly because people often don't use proper names.
She cited the Idylwyld Freeway Bridge, which is actually named Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge.
"We have examples in this city where we've named things after prominent citizens, but people still keep using the names that make sense for them," she said.
Councillor Tiffany Paulson thinks a naming contest is a good idea, but not for $30,000. She thinks it can be done for far less than that.
"[We could] create some awareness through the media, and through social media, and at leisure centres, possibly, for people to simply put their suggestions in for the bridge. This is a really low-cost initiative," she said.
The Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services will vote again on November 3.
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