IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Should the Waukee City Council Scrap the Sidewalk Ordinance?
Waukee residents turned out last night at the Waukee City Council meeting to protest the city's sidewalk ordinance calling it unfair to property owners. What do you think?
An often argued city ordinance that requires residents to maintain the sidewalks on their property at their own expense could go the way of the dinosaurs soon.
At Monday night's meeting of the Waukee City Council, more than 20 Waukee residents showed up to protest the ordinance saying it was flawed and unfair to property owners.
According to the Des Moines Register, there were 19 property owners scheduled to repair or replace their sidewalks as part of the program. Many of the estimates for repair were in upwards of $10,000.
Even Mayor Bill Peard said he thought the program needed an overhaul. The Council voted 3-1 to further discuss the program at a later meeting.
What do you think? Should Waukee ditch the current sidewalk ordinance and start over or is it fair as it is?
Jody Gifford
2:40 pm on Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Has anyone already had to repair their sidewalk at a hefty cost? From what I've heard, none of the repairs have been cheap.
Jen
4:51 pm on Tuesday, April 3, 2012
My grandmother had to have once placed on her property per the city. She used to live at the corner of 4th and Ashworth. She was sent the bill for the services from the city and it was outrageous! This is a women in her 70's who works part-time! I thought it was completely unfair at the time, and I still think it is! There are some people who could go "sidewalk broke". Let property owners tend to their own properties.
Lynn Hakenson
7:17 am on Wednesday, April 4, 2012
The program needs to be eliminated. The city is playing "Big Brother" to adults and we should not let it happen. It is the homeowners responsibility to maintain their sidewalk and 99% of all homeowners will and do maintain their sidewalk/property. If there is a major issue with a sidewalk and the property owners are not fixing THEN and ONLY THEN should the city step in. They (city) says they are doing this to be inline with ADA. If this is so, they need to look in the mirror and repair their streets. I have seen walk crossings where a non handicap person would have issues crossing because the street has major imperfections. Wake up citizens of Waukee and stop letting the city rule our lives. We are adults not kids that need to have our hands led by the city. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Ralph Freidmantle
10:06 am on Wednesday, April 4, 2012
@Tammy, my income level is none of anyone's business. I agree with your liability concerns, however there needs to be a review on who truly owns the sidewalk.