Drivers entering and exiting Thorold South have experienced a range of roadside reactions within the past couple months.
One resident told ThoroldNews he was “so happy” to see a sign proudly proclaiming his hometown of Thorold South at the Niagara Falls Road entrance, installed by city staff on July 5.
“There are some residents in that community who like to recognize that it is a distinct community in the city of Thorold, and it’s nice to have that recognition,” the city’s Public Works and Community Services director Geoff Holman told ThoroldNews.
When the lifelong Thorold South resident saw it had disappeared about a week later, he was both surprised and saddened.
A heavier, more secure sign was bolted onto a post on Aug. 23.
Again, the resident was happy but it was short-lived; soon replaced by anger.
Less than a week later, the second sign was vandalized; hacked in two at the top.
“The only way to steal it was to take a chainsaw to it,” said Coun. Ken Sentance, who grew up in Thorold South, and spearheaded the mission to make the entranceway more attractive.
He hoped that by doing so, it would discourage illegal dumping and littering, a practice that’s become commonplace at the site for many years.
At a recent council meeting, Mayor Terry Ugulini reported that various partners have teamed up with city staff to help keep the Thorold South entrance litter-free.
Resolute Forest Products, whose property borders the T.S. entrance, has directed security staff to increase their patrols, “and they have done a good job of doing that,” stated Holman.
He added that Niagara Regional Police have also helped by beefing up patrols, and that Ontario Power Generation (OPG) recently contributed to the beautification cause by donating decorative rocks, strategically placed along the roadside.
Since then, there has been “some debris,” such as coffee cups, stated Holman, “but nothing to the extent we had in the past.”
Niagara Region staff has been successful in laying charges against litterers in other areas by by examining trash contents to determine the dumpers’ identity.
As far as the two signs—each of which cost the city $400—“I think it would be pointless to keep doing the same thing,” said Holman, who described the vandalism as “disheartening.”
He added that security cameras may be installed, but that decision would have to be made by city council.
Sentance told ThoroldNews he was "disappointed," but presented a positive spin on the situation at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
After thanking city staff for their assistance, the councillor said, “The rocks look great, and we are going to look into something a little more permanent,” in terms of signage in the future.
