(A) All sidewalks which are constructed, reconstructed, or ordered to be laid, rebuilt or reconstructed shall require a permit from the City Council. Application for the permit shall be made on forms to be approved by the Council and shall sufficiently describe the contemplated improvements, the contemplated date of beginning work and the length of time for completion of the same. However, no permit shall be required for any improvement ordered to be installed by the city.
(B) All sidewalks which are constructed, reconstructed, rebuilt or ordered to be rebuilt, reconstructed or laid shall be constructed according to the plans and specifications herein provided. Before any construction work is begun, the city will furnish at its own expense stakes for the established grade and for the line of improvement.
(C) Whenever the City Council decides in favor of constructing, laying or rebuilding any sidewalk, it shall pass a resolution ordering the same and shall cause a notice to be given to the owners of real estate adjoining or abutting upon the street, lane, alley, or highway where the improvement is proposed to be made. Service of the notice shall be through the mail. A copy of the resolution shall be published in the official paper of the city once each week for two consecutive weeks. The construction, laying or rebuilding of the sidewalk in question shall be made within 20 days of the notice.
(D) If the work shall not be fully done and the sidewalk shall not be fully constructed or rebuilt in the manner and within the time prescribed in the resolution, then the City Council may order the same to be done by the Street Commissioner or other designated official, or cause the same to be done by contract to the lowest responsible bidder and the entire expense thereof to be paid by the abutting property owners.
(E) Any and all temporary repairs of sidewalks, when necessary for public safety, shall be made by the Street Commissioner or other designated official without notice or publication thereof.
(F) The material used in each batch of cement shall be weighed or accurately measured so as to give a uniform workable concrete which will have a compressive strength of not less than 3,000 pounds per square inch at 28 days. The quality of the cement used shall conform to the latest Standard Specifications for Standard Portland Cement of the American Society of Testing Materials, or commercial ready mix sidewalk cement.
(G) The subgrade for sidewalks shall be firm, compact and of uniform density. All soft or spongy material or vegetable matter must be removed and replaced with suitable material. The subgrade shall be finished to a uniform surface at the required depth below the established grade of the improvement.
(H) Sidewalks constructed along streets with curbing shall be 54 inches in width as a minimum and not less than three and five-eighths inches in thickness with an incline of one inch towards the curb.
(I) Sidewalks constructed along streets with no curb must follow the grade line established by the City Engineer or the City Street Commissioner, and shall meet the same specifications as outlined in division (H) above.
(J) The use of the commonly known sidewalk cement slab with dimensions of approximately 18 inches by 18 inches and two inches thick is prohibited for use in either new construction of sidewalks or repairing of existing sidewalks.
(K) Contraction joints shall be made not more than five feet apart perpendicular to the center line and to the surface of the sidewalk. Expansion joints shall be at uniform intervals not to exceed 25 feet apart. The expansion materials are to consist of felt or fibrous material. Expansion joints shall also be placed between the walk and all abutting curbs, buildings or other masonry and concrete work.
(L) The Council shall require inspection and supervision of all work done hereunder as deemed necessary. The inspection shall be carried out through the office of the City Engineer or Street Commissioner.
(Ord. 137, passed 9-13-65) Penalty, see § 10.99