The latest meeting of Carlyle town council saw a delegation visit the assembly to show off a 21st century solution to the problem of sidewalks.
The meeting began with the passing of the usual motions concerning minutes from the previous meeting, and additions to the agenda.
One addition was called for, the visit from a delegation invited to council to show members the innovative new surface solution to the town's sidewalks.
Chandra Shekhar of Champion Edition Inc. came to town to answer council's questions regarding the Eco-flex tiles the town is considering for a sidewalk replacement.
The Eco-flex rubber tile surfacing being considered is an eco-friendly product made from recycled tires, and manufactured in the community of Legal, AB.
With issues of frost heave and shifting soils creating a problem for both cement and macadam surfaced sidewalks, the Eco-flex seemed a good solution to ensure the longevity of the sidewalks.
Shekhar informed council of the benefits of the tiling system, highlighting the minimal manpower-hours needed to install the tiles (the tiles being looked at by the town at four foot by five foot, two inches deep, and weigh 220 pounds each) because they snap together once laid, the no-slip nature of the surface, as well as its ability to cushion falls and minimize injury for persons walking on the surface.
Bringing an example of the material with him, council members passed around the brick.
Surprisingly heavy, the rubber used in the construction of the material is broken into extremely small fragments and compressed before use, making the tile material extremely dense and resistant to ordinary wear and tear damage.
Council appeared very supportive of the idea, and the issue will be looked at closer at a later date.
Following the delegation, matters turned to council and mayoral reports.
Mayor Don Shirley and council member Mel George had attended a meeting in Regina regarding the Urban Connector Program.
Carlyle has been resisting inclusion in the program, along with the vast majority of other small communities, since the program was first suggested to the town.
Aimed at including townships within a cost sharing agreement with the ministry of highways for maintenance and upkeep of any stretch of highway that passes 'through' a town with a population over 1,000, the council has stated many concerns with the project.
Highway 13 is the highway Carlyle is especially being pressed to join because of, as with the commercial section on the northern side of the highway, the highway legally runs 'through' town.
In views expressed by councillors in the past, because the program would not allow the town any control on the stretch of highway in question, unable to okay approaches, change speed limits, or place a traffic control apparatus like a traffic light or stop sign, it would make no sense for the town to voluntarily pay a portion of the support costs for the road.
Further, because of the existence of a bridge within the limits of the town, the costs involved with repair or replacement of that item could well be more than the town could easily afford.
Shirley and George both reported that the meeting was to see why the town continued to resist the program, and to see if there were solutions to the town's concern.
Both said they left the meeting feeling that, due to the wide resistance in the province to the Urban Connector initiative, the program could likely be changed to include only cities.
Further reports made showed that the new water treatment plant is at 21 percent complete at this time, and financially the town is carrying a comfortable surplus, as sales of commercial and residential lots had far outstripped what had been budgeted for in the previous year.
A motion was made to accept repair of the town office clock tower.
The tower, which has been correct only twice a day for many years, is also due to have a facelift, with the new face better coinciding with the period of Charles Dickens, thus looking more appropriate for the annual Dickens Village Festival.
The total cost of the parts will run $9,050 plus applicable taxes.
Finally, a the final five designs for the new Carlyle town sign, to be located at the foot of Main Street, at the intersection with highway 13, were examined.
While no firm decision has yet been made, it is likely the sign will be selected in the New Year.
