Sidewalk requested for safety reasons
JANESVILLE — A stretch of sidewalk in the Village Green apartment complex in Janesville could become the only new sidewalk included on the 2008 sidewalk program.
The council decided that the city this summer would take care of a backlog of complaints concerning existing sidewalk in disrepair. No new sidewalk would be built, they decided, unless it was requested by residents’ petitions or for safety reasons.
The engineering department received a request for a sidewalk from a resident of an apartment on the east side of Morningside Drive. She must operate her wheelchair in the street to move between her apartment and her garage located in an off-street private parking lot.
The property owner was unwilling to sign a waiver of a special assessment to allow the sidewalk installation this year without bringing a resolution before the council.
The apartment complex is managed by Olympic Realty in Appleton.
The sidewalk is on the city’s sidewalk map as a planned sidewalk. The resolution identifies the area as a public safety hazard by the city engineer.
The sidewalk would be built on the east side of Morningside Drive and run 345 feet south of Canyon Drive to 70 feet north of Canyon Drive.
If approved, the owner would be assessed for 354 feet of sidewalk at the 2007 new sidewalk rate for a total cost of $8,319.
A public hearing on the resolution is scheduled at 7 p.m. Monday in City Hall, 18 N. Jackson St.
The council had decided to delay until 2009 an ambitious sidewalk program that would begin to connect the city’s patchwork of sidewalks.
However, Jack Messer, director of operations, said at a recent neighborhood meeting that he might ask the council to delay that program because his department has been swamped cleaning up after the flood.
The council in 2006 required that sidewalks be built on both sides of the street in new subdivisions.
ON THE AGENDA
The Janesville City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in City Hall, 18 N. Jackson St. Items on the agenda include:
-- Approval of a contract with new city manager Eric Levitt, which includes a base salary of $136,000.
-- Presentation of the 2009 budget.
-- A public hearing on a proposed ordinance rezoning property located at 2304 and 2305 Fulton Street from M2 to B4.
-- Review of the development proposal from the Janesville Youth Baseball and Softball Association to expand its athletic fields and facilities at the Youth Sports Complex, followed by action on the lease.
-- Action on a proposed resolution dissolving TIF No. 8 and TIF No. 20.
-- Action on a proposed resolution authorizing funds for flood costs.
-- Action on a proposed TIF agreement with Cummins, Inc. authorizing a $187,500 development loan for a distribution center located in TIF No. 22.
-- Presentation by the administration on the 2008 Sidewalk Replacement Program and authorization to spend funds.
Oct 11, 2008 at 11 p.m.
Suggest removal
Note to new city manager....Now is your chance to deal with and dispose of the annual side walk fiasco.
Trust me...if you do it now, your tenure here will be a lot smoother.
Oct 11, 2008 at 10:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
When will this city (administration) wise up and include side walks with all other infrastructure as part of the general fund?
Side walks should go hand in hand with curb and gutter...all included in the gf.
Oct 11, 2008 at 8:11 a.m.
Suggest removal
I looked at the city council members home addresses listed on the city website, then looked up pictures of their homes on the city website. Only 3 of the 7 current members have sidewalks (Truman, McDonald and Yuri). The other 4, looks like they don't from the pictures. They might have had them installed since the pictures were taken though. I wonder if our new city manager will purchase a home that has sidewalks.
Oct 11, 2008 at 7:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
doc- He used to live where he had a sidewalk, but now it looks like he lives somewhere were he doesn't. In a new subdivision, which according to the 2006 plan, "The council in 2006 required that sidewalks be built on both sides of the street in new subdivisions" maybe will get one in 2009? Its hard to ever follow the city plans for new ones as they change their minds every year.
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The city worked on a backlog of old sidewalk complaints this summer, where they were in existing ones in poor shape. The 3 sidewalks I complained about, only one was repaired. The other 2 changed owners and I guess the paperwork got tossed. Their sidewalks never got fixed, even though I was told they had several complaints besides mine. But many, many of their neighbors had to replace their sidewalks. Ones that didn't need it IMO. The 3 I complained about were greatly cracked and heaved up by trees. Full of ice in the winter. And yup, ones that got re-done, they are remarked to have it done over. They are actually in better condition than the 2 still waiting for repairs!
Oct 11, 2008 at 3:01 a.m.
Suggest removal
I stil want to know if Mr Jack Messer has sidewalks in front of his home and what kind of condition theyare in! I just had to replace 27 squares and of those maybe 8 where bad but hey the outside company they hired from Milwaukee came with their pink spray paint and said BAD! Why did we out source for this when we have people that could come out and make these judgements that already work for the city? Just an example of another waste of money by our city and this doesn't include the color pictures and many sheets of unesessary info on your sidewalk they sent out to owners, This last projects cost could have been cut in half if it would have been done all locally! Again I ask where does Jack Messer live and how about his sidewalks?
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