CENTERBURG — A proposed sidewalk program designed to improve walkability in the village will also help Centerburg residents cover the cost of repairs.
Council members on Monday introduced legislation creating the program. Increasing walkability is one of the goals of the village’s strategic plan.
Over the past year, the Sidewalk Committee has worked to identify sidewalks that need repair and areas where sidewalks are nonexistent. The Ohio Revised Code states sidewalk maintenance is the responsibility of property owners.
Under the sidewalk program, the village is divided into several areas. Village officials will inspect one area each year, looking for cracked and uneven walks, excessive deterioration or slopes, and trip hazards.
When defects are identified, the village will get a repair estimate and notify the property owner of the cost. Property owners who choose to opt into the sidewalk program will pay 50% of the cost; the village will pay the other 50%.
Additionally, the village will arrange for the contractor, schedule the work, and monitor quality control.
Property owners who choose to opt out of the program are still eligible for up to 50% reimbursement, but they are responsible for finding and scheduling the contractor or doing the work themselves. The village will determine if the property owner’s cost is in an acceptable range.
The number of sidewalks repaired or replaced each year is based on the money available in the sidewalk fund. Council members have committed to appropriating $20,000 each year for sidewalk repair.
Parking change
After 17 years on South Hartford Avenue, Donald Wallace has seen commercial traffic steadily increase, speeders, and has had his mailbox hit several times. Nevertheless, he opposes council’s proposal to eliminate parking on the west side of the street.
Wallace said that as an experienced heavy equipment driver, he understands the difficulty school bus and commercial drivers have navigating the stretch of South Hartford between Church and Dally streets when cars are parked on both sides.
“I do understand operating can be difficult, but it’s not out of the realm if proper training is given,” he told village council members at their July 17 meeting.
Additionally, he said the problem only involves a few streets compared to Franklin County, where hundreds of streets have parking on both sides.
“In retrospect, our streets in Centerburg should not be a concern,” he said.
Wallace said alternate routes should be given to keep commercial traffic out of a residential area.
Relating to speeding, he said the speed signs do not do much good. Of eliminating parking on the west side of the street, he said, “As a taxpayer, each homeowner has a right to park on the streets without fear of cars being towed or ticketed. Parking on the lawn should be allowed. Street parking is a necessity for some at times, and for others, all the time.”
South Hartford resident Debbie Canipe also opposes eliminating parking on the west side.
“I think your issue is Church Street to Main Street. That’s congested,” she said.
“Taking away parking on one side enables drivers to increase their speed more,” another woman said. “If you take that away, you are going to have so many problems.”
Council members gave a second reading to the ordinance eliminating parking on the west side of South Hartford and will schedule a special session of the safety committee for 5 pm Monday, Aug. 7, to further discuss the residents’ concerns.
Council took the following additional actions:
•Approved the proposed 2024 budget, which reflects $1.14 million in the general fund
•Adopted legislation earmarking 25% of real estate and municipal income tax collections for the street fund
•Gave the second reading to legislation creating a vacant property registry and guidelines for waste haulers operating in the village
•Gave a first reading to legislation acquiring health insurance coverage for full-time employees
•Heard the results of a traffic study conducted by Carpenter Marty
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