Resolution No. 10-03M

WHEREAS, the Department of Highways and Transportation hires a consulting firm to conduct rural municipal traffic counts in approximately 64 rural municipalities each year; and

WHEREAS, the letter of understanding signed by the contractor and the Department requires that a minimum of one weeks notice be provided to the RM prior to the initial traffic count being set; and

WHEREAS, follow-up recounts are often necessary due to faulty data or equipment; and

WHEREAS, the letter of understanding does not require that notification be provided to the RM prior to such recounts; and

WHEREAS, the consultant's position is that the RM is liable for all unintentional damage to their equipment which may occur during such recounts;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that SARM lobby the Department of Highways and Transportation to amend their contractual letter of understanding so that the consulting firm in charge of the traffic count must either: 1.provide appropriate notice to RMs prior to traffic recounts being conducted; or 2.accept sole responsibility for any damage done to their equipment.

Response From Honourable Mark Wartman, Minister of Highways and Transportation:

Regarding the resolution on traffic counts, No. 10-03M submitted by the Rural Municipality of Bratt's Lake No. 129, the department agrees to amend future letters of understanding with the rural municipality traffic count contractor to include a requirement that the contractor must either: 1. Provide RMs with a minimum of three working days advance notice of recount operations;or 2. Accept sole responsibility for any damages sustained to the counting equipment by RM operations.