MONROE - Director of Public Works Kelly Finkenbinder ordered some of the steps in front of Amcore Bank removed Tuesday.
He didn't know how much it would cost to remove them, nor did he know who will ultimately pay for the removal.
He said the city could end up paying the bill or it could be paid by Fehr-Graham and Associates, the engineering firm overseeing the project.
The steps in front of the bank, which were poured recently as part of the Streetscape program for the Downtown, have slight inclines in between the steps. The inclines could pose a tripping hazard to people.
The Monroe Board of Public Works Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a new design for the north side of the Square. There will be some steps of uniform size at intervals on the north side, along with a retaining wall along the sidewalk. The city could put in handrails for people to use along the sidewalk.
Finkenbinder told the board he ordered some of the steps removed after he was given the impression Monday the board wanted them removed.
He said financial questions would have to be answered at a later time. However, he didn't know if a city committee would decide the issue or when the council as a whole might take up the matter.
Business owners and citizens attended Tuesday's meeting to voice their concerns about work on the north side of the Square and the problems with the steps.
Some business owners said that removing the steps would set the project back at least three weeks. They said they want sidewalks in front of their businesses before then.
Finkenbinder ordered the steps removed so the project could continue to move forward. The sooner the steps were removed the sooner a new design could be approved by the city and new steps poured, he said.
But some business owners wondered why the steps needed to be removed at all.
Finkenbinder said he believed the steps were unacceptable and needed to be removed.
Council member Jan Lefevre said the steps violated codes for height and also posed a liability issue for the city.
Mayor Ron Marsh said the steps were a liability issue
"This was an accident waiting to happen," he said.
Ryan Wilson of Fehr-Graham disagreed with Lefevre assessment that the steps violated codes.
"It's questionable if there's a code for outside steps," Wilson said. "The code cited (by Lefevre) are for building codes."
Lefevre said Wilson was trying to deflect criticism of his firms designs.
City Attorney Rex Ewald said he was concerned about the steps from a liability point of view.
"I have serious concerns about a stairway that runs an entire block without handrails," Ewald said.
If someone fell on the steps, Ewald explained, the property owner would be responsible. However, the city could be held liable if it knew the steps posed a danger.
"That concerns me," he repeated.
He didn't know how much it would cost to remove them, nor did he know who will ultimately pay for the removal.
He said the city could end up paying the bill or it could be paid by Fehr-Graham and Associates, the engineering firm overseeing the project.
The steps in front of the bank, which were poured recently as part of the Streetscape program for the Downtown, have slight inclines in between the steps. The inclines could pose a tripping hazard to people.
The Monroe Board of Public Works Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a new design for the north side of the Square. There will be some steps of uniform size at intervals on the north side, along with a retaining wall along the sidewalk. The city could put in handrails for people to use along the sidewalk.
Finkenbinder told the board he ordered some of the steps removed after he was given the impression Monday the board wanted them removed.
He said financial questions would have to be answered at a later time. However, he didn't know if a city committee would decide the issue or when the council as a whole might take up the matter.
Business owners and citizens attended Tuesday's meeting to voice their concerns about work on the north side of the Square and the problems with the steps.
Some business owners said that removing the steps would set the project back at least three weeks. They said they want sidewalks in front of their businesses before then.
Finkenbinder ordered the steps removed so the project could continue to move forward. The sooner the steps were removed the sooner a new design could be approved by the city and new steps poured, he said.
But some business owners wondered why the steps needed to be removed at all.
Finkenbinder said he believed the steps were unacceptable and needed to be removed.
Council member Jan Lefevre said the steps violated codes for height and also posed a liability issue for the city.
Mayor Ron Marsh said the steps were a liability issue
"This was an accident waiting to happen," he said.
Ryan Wilson of Fehr-Graham disagreed with Lefevre assessment that the steps violated codes.
"It's questionable if there's a code for outside steps," Wilson said. "The code cited (by Lefevre) are for building codes."
Lefevre said Wilson was trying to deflect criticism of his firms designs.
City Attorney Rex Ewald said he was concerned about the steps from a liability point of view.
"I have serious concerns about a stairway that runs an entire block without handrails," Ewald said.
If someone fell on the steps, Ewald explained, the property owner would be responsible. However, the city could be held liable if it knew the steps posed a danger.
"That concerns me," he repeated.