In the latest meeting of the Carlyle town council, the council moved to secure funding for a daycare centre.
Initial business passed quickly, with the first discussions beginning with the chief administrator's report.
It has become apparent that a 100 per cent grant might be available for the town to build and establish a daycare centre within the community.
Controlled through the school division, a funding program is made available for facilities cost through the department of early learning, a branch of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education.
With a resolution from council needed to proceed with application for the grant, the council voted unanimously to support the grant application.
Also in the CAO report, it has become apparent that the water treatment plant project, the largest and most expensive project the town has ever pursued, has fallen now two-months behind schedule, and an outstanding issue regarding the water pipeline, which was inadvertently run across private property, outside the easement provided for such projects, was continuing to flare.
Bullee Consulting, the engineering firm which had been contracted for the project, was responsible for the mis-alignment of the pipeline, and is therefore responsible to come to terms with the landholders who had their properties crossed by the pipeline.
However, indications are that the talks between the property owners and Bullee have not proceeded at this point-in-time, leading to hard feelings from the landholders.
With the report presented to council in December of 2010 saying the treatment plant project was on schedule, and the continuing issue of the water pipeline, council determined to begin a more forceful dialogue with Bullee, as the consensus reached by council was that Bullee was not meeting commitments agreed upon in the initial contract.
Of final interest, a report from the SUMA (Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association) AGM showed Carlyle to have had shared concerns about possible spring flooding, as the topic was one of some focused discussions through the meeting.
As well, the resolution forwarded by the town regarding railroad land was passed with no dissent.
The sole delegation joining the table for the evening was Carlyle Detachment RCMP commanding officer, Staff Sergeant Phil Harrison.
Attending council, Harrison presented the quarterly report concerning policing within the town limits.
Noting that number for most offences have remained the same, year-over-year, Harrison also noted that traffic infringements remain some of the most common cases of police involvement.
Further, Harrison informed council that he now had two uniformed members who were now trained for the DARE (Drug and Alcohol Education) program.
The two officers will now be available for schools in the area who wish to schedule drug and alcohol informational sessions.
Following the RCMP delegation, the topic to sdraw discussion was concerning a municipal by-law that was entered for the first reading.
Bylaw # 2011-01 - Amend Zoning Bylaw, was entered for first reading only, and was the first step towards preparing a previously contested parcel of land for residential development.
The parcel in question, south of a private residence, has been a topic of debate for weeks now since an unnamed person had approached the town to develop the property.
Previously, it had been believed the land to be un-developable, due to its location and elevation relative to the gravity-fed sewers the town uses.
Following a engineering report showing that the land could in fact be serviced, the unnamed party approached the town and offered to purchase the land, develop the road and bring to the lot all the services required at their own expense.
Debate about the planned development raged for 45 minutes, with councillor George Anderson being the strongest voice of protest.
While the first reading of the bylaw would not put it into effect, Anderson nonetheless expressed displeasure with the move, suggesting that by doing so, it would send a message that the council had already made up its mind regarding the development.
"I don't understand why we would move ahead with this when we have all these other lots already developed," Anderson said. "It doesn't make sense to me to sell this piece of land, when we have all this other land we have put money into over here."
The debate continued as council attempted to reach some consensus, only ending when Anderson announced he would not change his mind on the issue.
"I won't vote for this this week, and I won't vote for it next week," Anderson said. "And it has nothing to do with who lives over there."
The vote was nonetheless carried, with Anderson being the sole 'nay' vote.
A development permit presented for council's assent showed that a 50-room Super '8' motel is planned for within the town, located near the CE Franklin and Millenium Drilling businesses.
Finally, a name for the commercial road running through that area was decided upon.
To be called 'Turriff Ave.' council selected the name to honour the late John G. Turriff.
Turriff, on whose land Carlyle was first founded, was also the first Post Master for the area.
Turriff also opened a general store to serve the community, then went on to represent the area on the territorial council, before Saskatchewan became a province.
Forsaking territorial politics, Turriff went on to be a Member of Parliament in Ottawa, and later a Senator, a position he continued to serve until his death in 1931.
