The Village of Boyle’s public works department has been assigned to fix an ice problem in the parking lot of the Boyle Municipal Centre.
At their meeting Nov. 15, Mayor Colin Derko said a large pool of water forming ice has been regularly building up in the parking lot.
Council voted unanimously to accept the discussion for information, intending to find a more permanent solution after the winter due to the construction challenges of the season.
Boyle’s public works superintendent Alex Neumann said the issue is being caused by run-off from the rooftop drain, which flows onto the parking lot.
“We didn’t realize it until after it was built,” Neumann said.
Derko said he was surprised such a design could be approved by engineers.
“I don’t understand how anyone can engineer something so silly,” Derko said. “That icy patch is going to get bigger and bigger.” He also said several seniors’ groups had approached him about the matter. He added that they understood that parking lots will often have some level of freezing, but wanted council to be aware of the issue.
“Adding to it is not the smartest way to do it, so we’re going to have to find a solution,” Derko said.
This was not the only drainage problem associated with the Boyle Municipal Centre. Derko said the village had previously cut a part of the sidewalk that had a drain flowing over it to ensure the sidewalk did not ice over as well.
Boyle chief administrative officer Charlie Ashbey said the only solution would likely be a heating pipe being run to the parking lot.
“So more operating costs. There’s no easy solution to it,” Ashbey said.
Neumann said staff would work on the patch throughout the winter to break up the ice.
