Update from City Councillor

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School Bus Special – Bus Network Redesign 

Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) only provides school specials in neighbourhoods that have fixed route conventional service, and only when the regular ETS service in those areas is overcrowded and when EPSB requests such service. Not all areas have school specials, even if they have conventional service. 

In the old network there were school specials in Henderson Estates for Riverbend School.  These specials now operate along Riverbend Road as extra trips on Route 56.  There are also school specials along Riverbend Road (Route 56) to St. Rose and Archbishop MacDonald like the specials operated on Route 23.  The school boards have been notified about the changes of service in Henderson and may consider yellow bus service for designated schools.

As discussed in the meeting, the new bus system will require some time to iron out all of the kinks. Where riders are experiencing challenges they should provide that feedback directly to ETS.

Henderson Park Alternative Building Site

We have discussed Henderson Park a lot lately, so I don’t know if there is much more to add. There is a good possibility that the Executive Committee Report will be delayed from August until after the election, which means any consideration of any activity, if any activity is contemplated, won’t happen until early next year.

City Adding Surplus School Site on Maps

City Administration explained that more information about adding surplus school sites to maps can be found at the below link: 

https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/urban_planning_and_design/surplus-school-building-sites.aspx

In terms of adding this location to City of Edmonton’s SLIM Maps (Maps.edmonton.ca), please let my office know if this is where you would like this surplus school site to be identified. My office can connect with City Administration and request for the SLIM team to add this to their school site options within their maps. 

In relation to Google Maps, City Administration has no control over that nor would that be the responsibility or an aspect that Google would consider. City Administration does want Google to feature the correct road numbers/addresses (re annexation area) but adding supplementary data such as those sites is typically not something Google does. 

City Administration also explained that Homeowners Association’s can email buildinghousingchoices@edmonton.ca for further information if needed in relation to surplus school sites on maps. 

Power Line Alignment 

Apologies, I was not able to find any further information for you about the trees along the power line right of way. I have a few more lines of inquiry to follow.

Neighbourhood Renewal in Henderson Estates 

The Henderson Estates Neighbourhood will be undergoing roadway rehabilitation work this year.  The work will be commencing later this spring, likely late May/early June. This rehabilitative work is intended to extend the life of the road by up to 20 years, after which the full neighbourhood renewal will take place.

In terms of sidewalk conditions, the sidewalk work is currently underway is maintenance work that is completed prior to the road work commencing. This objective of the maintenance work is to minimize tripping hazards present in the sidewalk through the use of concrete grinding and mudjacking. 

Specifically, sidewalks that have tripping hazards will be completed on a notification basis (by contacting 311), with the possibility of other work being identified and repaired while on site. Repairs will range from complete replacement to spot patching with cement-based products or grinding. The City does currently have notifications related to Hegler Crescent and these will be repaired using one or more of the methods listed above. 

The primary reason for doing this maintenance work is to have the sidewalk and roadway fully repaired after the grind and overlay. Work done afterward could potentially impact the integrity and aesthetics of the asphalt overlay.

Thank you again for allowing me to attend your AGM.  Please continue to contact this office with any other municipal questions or concerns you have in the future.  Your feedback and input is greatly appreciated. 

Sincerely,

Tim Cartmell

         Tim Cartmell, P. Eng.
    Councillor | City of Edmonton
    Ward 9    2nd Floor, City Hall, 1 Sir Winston Churchill Square 
    Edmonton AB  T5J 2R7    780.496.8130 Interested in receiving newsletter updates? Sign Up Here.Visit www.timcartmell.ca for more information!    

Channel your spring fever to tackle the nasty ‘black knot’ fungus infecting Edmonton trees Social Sharing

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Ropey black growths that look like burnt sausages are a sign of trouble.

CBC News · Posted: Mar 28, 2021 7:00 AM MT |

A closeup of the black knot fungus, which impacts many fruit and mayday trees in Edmonton. (Tricia Simon/Alberta.ca)

Next time you’re out in the yard, you might want to check to see if you have what looks like burnt sausages hanging off your tree branch.

The ropey black growths are the sign of a disease called black knot fungus. If they’re not properly removed, the fungus will kill the tree and spread to others, says Rob Sproule, co-owner of Salisbury Greenhouse in Sherwood Park.

“Black knot fungus is kind of a nasty critter that’s been around for a long time. It’s hard to get rid of, but easy to spot,” Sproule told CBC Radio’s Edmonton AM this week.

“Now is a good time to look for it because there’s no leaves on the tree and you have an unobstructed view. It looks like burnt rope or burnt sausages on the branches. The branches have actually turned into, you know, the burnt sausage.” 

The fungus tends to attack trees of the prunus genus, which includes fruit trees like plum and cherry as well as the flowering mayday trees that are popular in the Edmonton area. 

Watch | What is black knot fungus?

‘A nasty, nasty fungus’

2 days ago0:57Black knot fungus is a rapidly spreading, often lethal infection, attacking trees in Alberta. 0:57

Both Sproule and the city’s forestry experts say that right now — before the leaves start emerging — is the time to tackle the problem. 

“Black knot is relatively common in Edmonton,” according to Melissa Campbell, the city’s supervisor of urban forestry operations. 

“Each year, city crews prune disease-prone trees during the winter months when the tree is dormant.”

During the most recent pruning season, which runs from October through March, crews dealt with more than 2,600 trees that had, or are susceptible to, black knot. Another 390 infested trees were removed, Campbell said.

Another good reason to tackle the problem now, Spoule said, is that fungus thrives in wet weather.

A tree infested with black knot fungus. If not dealt with, the fungus will move into the stem of the tree and eventually kill it. (Tricia Simon/Alberta.ca)

“It spores when it starts to rain. So the more it rains in the spring, the more it’s going to spore out,” he said.

“You actually start to see a white film on it, that’s the spores. And when the wind picks up, it carries them through the yard, into the neighbour’s [yard] and you’re not very popular.” 

The disease initially will show up like small, light brown swelling, usually on new green stems. Over time, the knots will darken and harden. 

Pruning involves getting rid of infected branches, about 10 to 15 centimetres past the knot. The city notes that it’s better to prune an infected branch further back than to leave a stub.

Experts also advise wiping the pruning tools with bleach between cuts to avoid spreading the spores.

Equally important is properly disposing of the infected branches, he said.

“It’s pretty toxic waste. It can actually continue to spore out for four years afterwards. … It’s nasty business,” Sproule said.

“You want to either burn it, if you’re in a rural area, or wrap it in a sealed plastic bag and put it in the garbage that way. It definitely doesn’t just go into the compost.”

Sproule said black knot fungus has been around for hundreds of years but, because of the types of trees it affects, it’s more likely to be found among trees planted within the city than in natural areas.

“It’s not going away, but we just have to learn how to control it,” he said. 

“For a lot of people who really have the spring fever — spring fever is huge this year — it’s a great time  to do pruning and  get out in the yard and actually do something.”