Long before I came on board, previous Monroe City Council members believed that sidewalks should be installed everywhere there is a curb and gutter, regardless of whether they are needed. They mandated that the property owners pay for this and then did nothing to ensure the budgeting for them over the years. That is why this has taken so long and people are upset over this. There are places in town where a sidewalk goes to nowhere, just because. >

If a sidewalk has not been installed for years and the property owner and surrounding neighbors got along with the situation the way it is, then why should they be forced now to have them. Just because? >There are businesses on the west side of 4th Avenue West which have only drive-in traffic, while there are sidewalks on the other side of the street where there are apartments. Now these businesses are being told they will have sidewalks installed on the west side of the street and they will pay for them. Why? Just because.>

Or, say there is a property owner on limited income who has been living in a home without sidewalks for many years and lives on a corner lot - which has double the walkway area. Then, let's say, there has to be grading done which would require cement blocks to add to the expense. This would run into several thousands of dollars, and the property owner is being asked to pay for this. Why? Just because. >

The ordinance states if a street which has no curb and gutters has to be repaired or dug up, then curbs and gutters will be installed and then there will have to be sidewalks installed? Why? Just because.>

I agree that new developments should have curbs, gutters and sidewalks. I agree that a sidewalk should be installed where none was before if walking traffic has significantly increased or if there is a safety hazard.

I also believe that sidewalks should go to somewhere, not to nowhere. Any place that has not had a sidewalk for years and years and does not warrant the necessity of it, should be grandfathered in.

The homeowner probably gets the least use out of the walk in front of his home. It's usually the passersby and other people in the neighborhood or around town who use it. The homeowner usually just goes from the driveway to the house, sometimes on the sidewalk, and sometimes not. So why shouldn't the expense be shared by people other than the homeowner? The homeowner is perfectly happy with the way things were. Is the reason just because?>

Couldn't this be paid for out of the general fund? I don't have all the answers to how this should be funded and I'm still working on that, but I'm willing to listen to any sensible solutions that the citizens come up with.

If anyone has a good and sound solution and wants to contact me, please do so on my cell phone 214-5893 or my e-mail at jlefevre@mrink.com. I hope, like all of you, that we don't have to keep this issue going on and on and dragging out for several more years. Let's end the just because >mentality.

- Jan Lefevre is Monroe's Ward 4 alderwoman.