It appears work to reconstruct a decommissioned sidewalk on Principale Street in Verner will have to wait until next year.
The sidewalk on the south side was removed this year at a cost of $20,000.
Mayor Joanne Savage said the safety and drainage issues were never raised at council and Savage says she doesn’t want the residents thinking that’s why the sidewalk was taken out.
She said the issue had to do with winter maintenance.
However councillor Roland Larabie had drainage issues raised with him while councillor Normand Roberge had two women tell him about falling on the sidewalk when it iced up.
The main issue with the former sidewalk is it was lower than the one on the north side meaning water coming from the higher sidewalk during rain or spring runoff would flood the lower sidewalk.
Staff has told the mayor and council if they want the sidewalk put back in, it won’t be a question of directing a crew to site.
They say the drainage issue also has to be addressed.
Staff says the municipality has to live within its means with projects.
If council wants, money that’s saved from other projects this year can be combined with money from reserves to tackle the issue this year.
But there will still be the drainage issue to deal with and staff have stressed this is not a quick fix.