New Sidewalk Locations and Estimates
• 20th Street: From 15th to 16th Avenue on both sides (estimated cost: $20,000; rank on priority list: 79). There is an extra cost on the 20th Street project of $12,000 for a retaining wall
• 20th Street: From 13th to 15th Avenue on both sides (estimated cost: $17,000; rank on priority list: 101)
• 20th Street: From 11th to 13th Avenue on both sides (estimated cost: $ 8,000 ; rank on priority list: 128)
• 30th Street: 6th Avenue to Wis.. 69 on both sides (estimated cost: $15,000; rank on priority list: 84)
• 1st Avenue: 6th to 8th Street on both sides (estimated cost: $24,000; rank on priority list: 86)
• 12th Avenue: 19th to 21st Street on east side (estimated cost: $ 8,000; rank on priority list: 112 )
MONROE - Mayor Ron Marsh's plan to get sidewalks throughout the city almost tripped on a crack at the Board of Public Works meeting Monday night.
Marsh has been trying since last summer to institute a plan to get the city's sidewalk installation completed faster - "in about five to seven years," City Administrator Mark Vahlsing said.
A 1996 study had prioritized sidewalk needs throughout the city, and had assumed a $200,000 annual project; but the city has been setting up only $100,000 projects.
Through last summer, the city had 68 percent or 137 miles of the sidewalks finished. About 32 percent, or 43 miles remain.
Board president Keith Ingwell broke a 2-2 tie last night to establish new sidewalk locations for 2008 and sent the resolution to tonight's City Council meeting.
Board members Mark Coplien and Dan Henke, an alternate sitting in for absent board member Chuck Koch, voted against the measure.
The total project cost for 2008 is estimated at $92,000 - $8,000 less than budgeted. A retaining wall in the 1500 block of 20th Street is an additional $12,000 over the $92,000.
According to Engineering Supervisor Al Gerber, sidewalk installation locations are chosen based on their 1996 priority; typically four to five sections are done a year.
Gerber said as soon as the weather permits, and snow is gone, the engineering department inspects the areas, taking into account trees and landscaping. Estimates of the size and costs for sidewalks in the areas are sent to the residents sometime in late March or early April. Residents then have an option to allow the city to bid out the work contract and repay the city or to hire their own contractor.
Henke and Coplien voiced different reasons for not supporting the new sidewalks this year.
Henke noted the rising costs of fuel and faltering economy, while saddling people with the added costs of installing new sidewalks. It is "hitting people with set incomes" especially, Henke said.
Coplien expressed his distaste for "making someone pay for something" they don't want.
"It's just hard for me to support it," he said.
Coplien also raised the problem of some sidewalks, such as on First Avenue, that lie right next to the street and gutter.
"You can't keep them clean," he said, explaining owners clear the sidewalks only to have them refilled when snow plows go by "an hour later."
"They're not doing anyone any good, and they can't be set back," he concluded.
But Ingwell cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of establishing the 2008 locations "to keep the Mayor's project going."
"We have to do something," Ingwell told the Board of Public Works members.
Marsh is meeting with the Judiciary & Ordinance Review Committee (JORC) at 6:55 p.m. today in city hall as they review and possibly take action on suggested changes to the Monroe City Code on Mandatory Sidewalk Installation.
Marsh had been asked by the Board of Public Works to refine his idea for accelerating the sidewalk installation with the Finance Committee and the JORC before returning the idea to them.
At tonight's JORC meeting, March is seeking to solidify the city sidewalk installation ordinance to reduce exemptions and prolonged delays. Details of tonight's discussion will focus on "verbiage changes" in "exceptions to the rules," Marsh said.
There are already exceptions to required installation in the ordinance, for such things as weather, landscaping and financial hardships, but Marsh is looking to make those postponements, and not indefinite exception.
"Some delays are acceptable," Marsh said. "We know you can't put in sidewalks in the middle of January. But eventually they will all have to be put in."
Marsh expects to meet with the Finance Committee next month to suggest providing residents with more repayment schedules. He may also discuss funding the fast-tracked installation project with a $3.5 million loan, and reprioritizing the 1996 list.
Installing new sidewalks is "part of an on-going city project at this point," Ingwell said, and needs to go before the whole Council to pass it - or not.
Marsh has been trying since last summer to institute a plan to get the city's sidewalk installation completed faster - "in about five to seven years," City Administrator Mark Vahlsing said.
A 1996 study had prioritized sidewalk needs throughout the city, and had assumed a $200,000 annual project; but the city has been setting up only $100,000 projects.
Through last summer, the city had 68 percent or 137 miles of the sidewalks finished. About 32 percent, or 43 miles remain.
Board president Keith Ingwell broke a 2-2 tie last night to establish new sidewalk locations for 2008 and sent the resolution to tonight's City Council meeting.
Board members Mark Coplien and Dan Henke, an alternate sitting in for absent board member Chuck Koch, voted against the measure.
The total project cost for 2008 is estimated at $92,000 - $8,000 less than budgeted. A retaining wall in the 1500 block of 20th Street is an additional $12,000 over the $92,000.
According to Engineering Supervisor Al Gerber, sidewalk installation locations are chosen based on their 1996 priority; typically four to five sections are done a year.
Gerber said as soon as the weather permits, and snow is gone, the engineering department inspects the areas, taking into account trees and landscaping. Estimates of the size and costs for sidewalks in the areas are sent to the residents sometime in late March or early April. Residents then have an option to allow the city to bid out the work contract and repay the city or to hire their own contractor.
Henke and Coplien voiced different reasons for not supporting the new sidewalks this year.
Henke noted the rising costs of fuel and faltering economy, while saddling people with the added costs of installing new sidewalks. It is "hitting people with set incomes" especially, Henke said.
Coplien expressed his distaste for "making someone pay for something" they don't want.
"It's just hard for me to support it," he said.
Coplien also raised the problem of some sidewalks, such as on First Avenue, that lie right next to the street and gutter.
"You can't keep them clean," he said, explaining owners clear the sidewalks only to have them refilled when snow plows go by "an hour later."
"They're not doing anyone any good, and they can't be set back," he concluded.
But Ingwell cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of establishing the 2008 locations "to keep the Mayor's project going."
"We have to do something," Ingwell told the Board of Public Works members.
Marsh is meeting with the Judiciary & Ordinance Review Committee (JORC) at 6:55 p.m. today in city hall as they review and possibly take action on suggested changes to the Monroe City Code on Mandatory Sidewalk Installation.
Marsh had been asked by the Board of Public Works to refine his idea for accelerating the sidewalk installation with the Finance Committee and the JORC before returning the idea to them.
At tonight's JORC meeting, March is seeking to solidify the city sidewalk installation ordinance to reduce exemptions and prolonged delays. Details of tonight's discussion will focus on "verbiage changes" in "exceptions to the rules," Marsh said.
There are already exceptions to required installation in the ordinance, for such things as weather, landscaping and financial hardships, but Marsh is looking to make those postponements, and not indefinite exception.
"Some delays are acceptable," Marsh said. "We know you can't put in sidewalks in the middle of January. But eventually they will all have to be put in."
Marsh expects to meet with the Finance Committee next month to suggest providing residents with more repayment schedules. He may also discuss funding the fast-tracked installation project with a $3.5 million loan, and reprioritizing the 1996 list.
Installing new sidewalks is "part of an on-going city project at this point," Ingwell said, and needs to go before the whole Council to pass it - or not.