The straight poop: Councillor complains wastewater trucks are meandering by schools

Somebody think of the children.

That's the essence of a complaint from Saskatoon city councillor Randy Donauer about sewage trucks cutting through a residential area to deliver our city's reeking refuse to its final dumping ground.

"Would the administration please report on our ability to prevent large sewage trucks, or other large trucks, from cutting through residential areas like Silverwood en route to the wastewater treatment plant?" the Ward 5 councillor wrote the city.

"In particular, can we prevent them from driving past multiple elementary as they drive through a residential neighbourhood with their industrial load?"

2 schools and a spray park

Silverwood Road, in the city's Silverwood Heights neighbourhood, is home to both Sister O'Brien Catholic Elementary School and Silverwood Heights School, plus a spray park.

The city has written Donauer back, both to clarify what roads haul truck drivers are supposed to use en-route to the plant (located off Whiteswan Drive) and to assure him they have a plan. 

Trucks picking up waste from Wanuskewin Road and carrying more than 8,000 kilograms are supposed to haul their loads via Lenore Drive, according to the city.

The city said it is sending letters to haulers advising them of the proper route. It will also monitor Silverwood Road this month.

If things don't improve, signs will be erected and "the Saskatoon Police Service will be requested to increase truck enforcement," the city wrote.

Classes begin at Silverwood Heights School on Sept. 4. Donauer first raised the issue last December.

Disposal station being moved

The city added it expects the number of heavy trucks going through Silverwood Heights and Lawson Heights will decrease once the waste hauler disposal station at the plant is relocated to the city's Marquis industrial area on the northern end of town in early 2019.

This isn't the first time Donauer has put the children first.

• Give the kids their afternoon 'wiener roasts' says councillor before Monday vote on evening-only fires

He was against the idea of limiting people's ability to use their fire pits starting only at 5 p.m. partly because it precluded "afternoon kids' wiener roasts."