Kyle City Council could not come to a conclusion on a proposed sidewalk maintenance program during Tuesday’s meeting—but council members agree the real decision is one of policy.

During a presentation on his proposal, District 4 Council Member David Wilson said the city has identified 270 homes with sidewalks that require repair. Under current city ordinance, homeowners are responsible for maintaining sidewalks adjacent to their house.

However, it has not been enforced in the past; the city's unofficial policy has been to fix trouble spots once they become too dangerous, staff said during an April City Council meeting. Residents, especially those from the Hometown Kyle and Plum Creek subdivisions, have been vocal about their hope that the city will officially take on the task of repairing sidewalks.

Wilson proposed that the city set aside $50,000 a year to take care of the 270 sidewalk issues in town over a five-year process, and set a policy for the long-term maintenance.

“We could not even consider offering something like that if we had not found a cheaper solution to what we’re dealing with in the bids we’ve gotten for sidewalk fixes,” Wilson said.

By using polyleveling technology to inject matter underneath the damaged points to make the sidewalk even again, the city would save a considerable amount of money and be able to give residents what they want, he said.

However, other council members had their concerns. District 1 Council Member Travis Mitchell acknowledged the need for city documents to line up with the city’s actions, but asked about the possibility for city becoming liable for accidents. District 3 Council Member Shane Arabie was skeptical of the long-term costs of assuming responsibility for sidewalks.

No vote was taken, but council is expected to address the issue of sidewalk maintenance again at a future City Council meeting.