City addresses public concerns over sidewalk disrepair

Pearl

- August 18, 2012 at 16:34:14

The city infrastructure is crumbling before our eyes. Unfortunately the past two Councils have focused their attentions and invested in recreation facilities. I'm not saying recreational facilities aren't necessary (within reason) but it's now time for the basics. Relatives and friends from out of town are appalled at the condition of our roads, sidewalks, cemeteries and signage. Not sure if anyone else has noticed but there are many street signs in the city are so faded/worn out you can't even see what street your looking for. Those people seeking a seat on Council should sit up and take notice and maybe if they made this a priority they might have a chance at getting elected. There are many nice things about the city (parks, flowers on Main etc) but the 'bones' like streets and sidewalks have much to be desired. It's time to re-prioritize.

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Daryl Bassett

- August 16, 2012 at 23:41:38

A succesful city is defined by its infrastructure and how the good citizens can access services provided. It comes to no surprise that as reported our sidewalks are crumbling in many different places creating a "broken window effect". I do note that many factors come to play some for seen and other mother nature is not so kind to concrete with our southern Sakatchewan weather,, everything has a life cycle in the infrastrucutre war-sidewalks are no different and usualy the first casualty in any given place name in modern civilization. A few areas are easily pointed out such as weather, root growth of trees, damage from heavy equipment, vehicles and natural wear and tear. Once small damage begins it gets multiplied by the street and add time with no extra funding for so the end result is many small fires having to be put out for a princely sum of a quarter of a million dollars annualy. There are many solutions to the road of healthy trees and smooth scooter friendly sidewalks how ever the implementation will take time, effort, energy, labour and what will cause any ratepayer to shudder-CASH I would like to suggest a street by street, house by house survey of sidewalks that are in disrepair. That can be done through of course resident, Canada Post employees, delivery and taxi cab drivers, and couriers. it is my understanding that a lot of sidewalk damage is done through tree root growth. Unfortunatly some trees mut be cut down others pruned and others may be left alone. A healthy street not only ha a good sidwalk but a nice treed canopy. With our weather there will always be conflict between concrete and ice, the battle will continue what shall where new sidewlk is put place a rubber or the like down?. Or a interlocking paver sidewalk either or can be made and created from a recycled source. That will definitly set us apart from the rest on that count. A private public partnerhip can be made for the recreation of all sidewalks in our city within one or two constructon season a brand new sidewalk created from recycled material and weather resisitant can be had. Provided there is a right mix from a paper study to a shovel ready project. Either way local people can be employed. When it comes to a creative source of re creating our sidewalks there is more than traditional concrete, other places have a rubber, porcelin, glass, asphalt,ceramic-all recycled. This is our chance to rebuild our city from the side walk on up it may be a irritating source of an expense but once implemented a community multiplier effect takes shape, a nice sidewalk would equal a better morale for the public and tourist which equals extra spending on the bricks and morter bussiness. A healthy city has an excellent commercial enterprise (Private). Once we deal with the sidewalk issue either it be one million or two million dollars the idea is the sidewalk embraces the next basic pillar of society- the pedestrains. Lets all pull together and be one city apart and above.

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dar

- August 16, 2012 at 07:43:20

Possibly if they could use some real paint fot the crosswalks and street lanes, they could get away with giving it one coat of paint per year, rather than ten, and the boys with far too many pylons than they are mentally capable of looking after, could do something else. Maybe... oh, I don't know... rehabilitate some sidewalks? Getting cold latex paint to stay on an oil base surface is a ridiculous, impossible task for an extremely important job, and every time it rains, they go straight down the drain. It's not a ball diamond. If you miss the bus, you can always catch the paint crew.

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