Township council says yes to guardrail where Kaden Young was lost in Grand River

Amaranth Township has decided to install a guardrail at10thLine, where 3-year-old KadenYoungwas lost in the Grand River.

The idea came from the community; Kelly Robinson of Waldermar, Ont., circulated a petition and council decided to accepther suggestion.

"It's a community request, these are people who live in that community," said Mayor Don MacIver.

"It's obviously been a tremendous tragedy that has occurred and a result, the community would feel much safer if there was a guardrail at that spot," Maclver said, referring to how Kadenwas swept away bythe water during the flood on Feb. 21.

The child's body still has not been found.

Robinson told CBC K-Wshe was was "overwhelmed" by council's response.

"Council was on our side 100 per cent," said Robinson. "They are going to take it to the agencies they need to speak with."

Robinson gathered over 2,000 signatures from people who support the idea.

Expert committee formed

Maclver said the council has formed an expert committee to look at the implementation of the guard rail and its design criteria.

"We put the team of experts together to figure out how we're going to do this, and we will follow through on it, that's the support of the council," he said.

The committee currently consists of five people, including members from the Ontario Provincial Police.

One of the factors the committee must look at is how long the rail would be and if it would extend beyond the 200 metres of the flood plainswhere the boy was lost.

"We're asking for... right from the Station Street bridge, all the way up," said Robinson.

MacIver said the expert committee will present a proposal for council to vote on during the first week of April.

"As long as the engineering and the length of the guard rail is determined, and the proposal comes from a technical viewpoint, then we'll move forward," he said.