The Village has established a sidewalk program to allow for cost sharing for construction and/or reconstruction of sidewalks. The cost sharing components of the sidewalk program are as follows:
(a) Property owners requesting program participation shall sign up within the year prior to the work being completed.
(b) At the first of each year, the Village shall request bids for work requested. If funds are not adequate to cover requests, the Village shall prioritize work based upon location and foot traffic.
(c) Once bids are received, the property owner will be required to pay their share before the work is started. If payment is not received by the designated date, their request will be removed from that year’s work schedule. This is a 50% sidewalk cost sharing program with the Village’s share of the cost being the cost of concrete and labor to meet the Village’s basic sidewalk standards.
(d) All work must comply with the Village’s current design standards and specifications. The Village has full authority to accept and/or reject any work requested by a property owner.
(e) Only sidewalks on public right of way are eligible. The Village shall be responsible for corners and alleys. Driveway approaches are not eligible for the sidewalk cost sharing program.
(f) Work that shall be performed by the Village’s contractor includes removal and replacement of sidewalk, placement of fill dirt and rough grading around the new work. The property owner shall be responsible for finishing the construction area, including fine grading, seeding and watering. All adjoining walks shall be brought to grade to eliminate any possible safety hazard, even if the section is not eligible for the sidewalk cost sharing program. In the event the section is not eligible, the property owner shall bear full financial responsibility for that work. When possible, this determination shall be set forth prior to commencement of any work. The Village has full authority to accept or reject all work performed by the contractor.
(g) The Village shall work with the property owner so it is very clear what work is to be done, including square footage, approximate elevation change, tapered sections, and tree root damage and/or tree removal. A work agreement between the Village and the property owner may be required to address access issues and any special problems related to each property.
(h) The Village shall not permit cost sharing for new homes, areas which currently do not have sidewalks, brick pavers, colored or stamped concrete, any construction beyond the Village’s basic sidewalk standards, or to any property that has been issued a Notice to Repair for nuisance issues, except with the approval of Council.
(i) The sidewalk cost sharing program will only be available to property owners when Village funds have been budgeted for such purposes. Funds shall be available on a first come, first serve basis. Preference will be given to the Safe Routes to School travel plan, if applicable. The property owner must sign a cost sharing agreement before being accepted into the program, and payment must be received prior to any work being performed.
(j) Request for participation in the sidewalk cost sharing program does not relieve any property owner of liability due to owner’s failure to maintain or repair the sidewalk or keep the sidewalk free from hazards.
(Ord. 2014-14. Passed 12-2-14.)