If you’ve been walking down Patricia Street lately, you might have noticed an addition to the greenspace next to the old fire hall – a kid-sized model steam engine.

The model was donated to the municipality by John Forabosco and was installed on a set of rails on the lawn next to the Jasper Artists Guild’s Brushfire Gallery on Oct. 19.

The location of the train was a subject of some debate at last week’s council meeting, however.

Margot Simpson, whose home backs onto that property, attended the meeting to express her concern that by placing the steam engine at the old fire hall, the municipality is encouraging late-night, rowdy partiers to linger in her neighbourhood on their way home from the bars.

“My concern isn’t the train, it’s the location,” she said, noting that she already can’t sleep with her windows open because she’s kept awake by the noise created by pedestrians leaving the bar.

“I think it’s a lovely donation. The issue is people are going to stop there.”

Simpson said she’s also fearful that the steam engine will be vandalized in that location. 

Coun. Rico Damota shared her concern.

“I would not choose that spot,” he told his fellow councillors. “I know for a fact it’s going to get defaced.”

“No one knows as a fact what is going to happen in the future,” responded Mayor Richard Ireland. “If you do, you should have a different occupation.

“Whether or not the train is located there or not,” the mayor added, “I don’t think it will change the number of people coming through.”

Council had advised administration to find an appropriate location for the train at an earlier meeting. Administration looked at a number of different sites, but it was ultimately decided that the lawn by the old fire hall was the most suitable location.

In donating the engine, Forabosco didn’t request a specific site, but asked that it be placed somewhere where it could be seen and enjoyed.

When he heard of the controversy around the placement of the model, he told administration that if it becomes too much trouble, he can always take it elsewhere, said Ken Quackenbush, director of environmental services.

“It’s a delicate balance of losing the train and having you live in hell,” Coun. Brenda Zinck told Simpson.

Coun. Gilbert Wall said he supports the location chosen by administration and suggested if it does cause problems, the engine could be moved.

Simpson said she feared that once the train is in place, it’s less likely that it will be relocated.

So, to lighten her fears, Wall put forward a motion to review the location in six months, with a commitment to relocate the steam engine if there are issues. And if there are no problems, it will be reviewed again after another six months, and if again everything seems to be going well, the engine will remain where it is.

The motion was supported by Ireland and Couns. Wall, Zinck, Brian Skehill and Dwain Wacko.

Damota was opposed, suggesting there should be a different location chosen. Coun. Mike Day was absent.