Winter access to cemetery to be further studied
The issue of whether there should be more winter vehicle access to the Grey Mountain Cemetery has been sent back to city administration for further analysis.
The issue of whether there should be more winter vehicle access to the Grey Mountain Cemetery has been sent back to city administration for further analysis.
Whitehorse resident Marney Paradis appeared before council last week to ask that the cemetery be open for vehicle access one day a week in the winter.
Currently, those requesting access during the winter must give the city 48 hours’ notice so arrangements can be made for plowing snow to allow for the access.
The cemetery is not staffed in the winter. Vehicle access in the summer is seven days a week, as there are staff on site.
Paradis said it’s difficult for people with disabilities to know if pain will prevent them from attending on the day they’ve scheduled in the winter.
Having the cemetery open one day a week would provide the comfort of knowing if they’re not able to make it on the scheduled day, there will be another day in the week available to them.
Administration is recommending the provisions for winter visits remain the same.
It was noted last week that providing one day of access in the winter would cost approximately $56,000 annually.
Six of the seven council members voted in favour of sending the issue back to administration for further analysis.
Mayor Laura Cabott voted against further analysis, as she felt the matter had already been sufficiently discussed.
Every time matters are sent to administration, there are additional time and costs, the mayor said.
It’s been suggested that instead of an additional one day of access a week that the city instead provide access on Christmas Day and Remembrance Day.
It was noted by staff that the additional two days of access could be accommodated within the existing budget.
On an annual average, the city receives six requests for winter access.
Last year, four of the six requests were for access on Christmas Day.
Comments (15)
Up 2 Down 2
Mark on Apr 5, 2022 at 9:16 am
This issue can be solved quite cheaply and adequately as well as fast.
Put in a parking lot near gate. The land is right there , it’s even mostly cleared already. Fill, grade, pack. (I bet our city workers could do this in a few hours).
Next, snowplow lot and cemetery paths as needed.
Up 7 Down 1
Fredia on Apr 4, 2022 at 3:23 pm
Surely you can speak to your loved one from anywhere, anytime, anyplace. Sounds like Ms. Paradis doesn't have enough to do to make this an issue.
Up 7 Down 0
Nathan Living on Apr 4, 2022 at 3:11 pm
I have a much cheaper solution. The City can buy snowshoes and lend them to people who want cemetery access in winter.
A much cheaper solution.
Up 12 Down 8
Bad Liberal! on Apr 2, 2022 at 4:18 pm
Okay then Tater - Come join us! There are a bunch of us Conservative minded people who get together to ice fish to watch the Liberals struggle with loading and unloading their boats. It’s funny as hell… They’ll sit in their boats all day casting their lines on top of the snow and ice… We have even seen these Liberals stop to buy a fish at the Superstore while rehearsing their stories of the big one that got away!
Up 13 Down 3
Bad Liberal! on Apr 2, 2022 at 1:23 pm
I apologize - Tater on Apr 2, 2022 at 2:22 am:
Calling you or anyone a Liberal is a low blow.
It was wrong for me to throw out such an accusation. I should have asked first. I know how hard it can hurt being called a Liberal when one is not. The stigma and the shame of Liberalism should not be assumed and the label should not be applied lightly.
I am sorry. You may be a Tater but you’re no little potato!
Up 9 Down 1
The math? on Apr 2, 2022 at 6:23 am
7 months where the road may need plowing (October through April) x 4 weeks @ 1 day per week = approx 28 days of plowing = $2000 per plow. But my main question is why the cemetery needs to be staffed in order to visit?
Up 9 Down 2
Tater on Apr 2, 2022 at 2:22 am
To Bad Liberal! on Apr 1, 2022
I'm INSULTED to be accused of being liberal!
I'm just a poor taxpayer looking to save a few bucks. And if it's more important to go ice fishing than have access to the cemetery, so be it.
Up 8 Down 4
Bad Liberal! on Apr 1, 2022 at 2:18 pm
Dear Tater - There is a rather large contingent of people who do ice-fishing. Now you want to take away our access to that too? You must be a Liberal?!?!
Up 7 Down 4
Sue sez on Apr 1, 2022 at 8:59 am
In this breathing world, $ is sorely needed for the living. Grey Mtn. Is a visual monument marking family Resting In Peace. Gaze fondly. Also realize a well known belief that the Dancing Lights of Winter months are the Spirits of ancestors/partners visiting with their loved ones; who as they would want are safely off any icy roads.
Up 6 Down 6
Tater on Apr 1, 2022 at 12:53 am
Well perhaps the city could stop clearing the road off of the Chadburn Lake road into the Schwatka Lake boat launch. I don't think anyone is launching a boat in the winter and use that savings to clear the driveway in the Cemetery.
Up 8 Down 5
Sheepchaser on Mar 31, 2022 at 7:52 pm
They aren’t going anywhere. See y’all in June.
Up 24 Down 2
Charlie's Aunt on Mar 31, 2022 at 3:25 pm
On this issue, Mayor Cabot appears to be the only person on council being intelligent. Six requests in an average winter with 4 being on Christmas Day so booking 48 hrs in advance with extra opening on Christmas Day and Remembrance Day would seem to be sufficient for the majority of residents. The presented request makes no sense. If the presenter is concerned that visiting on a day booked 24 hrs in advance may not be possible at the time, then what is the chance that a scheduled one day a week opening would also not be possible? With present winter usage, the chances are there would be no visits to cemetery on a weekly opening day and it would be $56,000 down the drain. Why would rest of council recommend the issue be sent back to admin? Now they are suggesting we tolerate this type of nonsense for 4 years instead of 3!
Up 21 Down 1
Yukoner on Mar 31, 2022 at 2:39 pm
And how much does that analysis cost.. just do it or don't stop wasting time and money.
Up 4 Down 7
Mitch Holder on Mar 31, 2022 at 2:19 pm
Although I took the position of opposition the other day, my mother rests there too. Might I suggest that the city establish a winter heavy equipment compound on site - that way, you can maintain the cemetery and have reserve resources to clear Riverdale on hand. Maybe an adjacent snow-dump if the area behind the cemetery up mountain is not already used for such. I am not always a cantankerous, argumentative or difficult person.
Up 36 Down 1
Brain Drained Politics.., Let’s study this! on Mar 31, 2022 at 1:33 pm
Okay, I’ll do it. It’ll be a year long study for $200,000 plus expenses. I can conduct interviews, perform psychological assessments, and run statistical analyses including a multi variate retrospective look into historical use and the reasons for and for not visiting the cemetery.
Give the city workers some shovels to clean up the streets FFS!