City Council discusses sidewalk criteria

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert City Council discussed criteria for sidewalk replacement and also looked at expanding the definition of street repairs to have replacement of sidewalks included when streets are redone.

The primary issues involving sidewalks are several cracks in a sidewalk square, cracks an inch wide or wider, and an uneven surface that could cause someone to trip and fall.

“The goal is to make it as lenient as possible for people,” said Streets and Alleys Committee Chair Steve Trittschuh.

Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming also noted that brick sidewalks and those created from pavers would have to be replaced, since they don’t meet the above criteria, but also said he still can’t believe the city’s street repair ordinance doesn’t include sidewalk repair, since it is much cheaper to replace sidewalks at the same time streets are repaired.

Fleming also said having the ability to fix sidewalks at the same time streets are repaired is critical to the success of a sidewalk repair program.

“I personally don’t believe the program will ever work here unless we change that and have some cash flow to fix sidewalks,” Fleming added.

However, broadening the city street repair ordinance to include sidewalk replacement would likely have to go to the voters, since it would affect language included in the .5-percent city income tax earmarked for street repair.

During his report, Mayor Jerry Mazur commended city workers for their quick action in getting the gasoline leak on East Main Street contained.

“I think we averted a catastrophe,” he said, adding: “We’ve now experienced two emergency situations in a short period of time that prove that our people are well trained and on the job and ready to go.”

The mayor also commended Fleming for his leadership in those areas and Van Wert County Emergency Management Director Rick McCoy for his assistance in getting the gasoline leak fixed.

Mayor Mazur also said the city is continuing to very aggressively pursue owners of dilapidated buildings in Van Wert Municipal Court.

Fleming noted that the last brush pick-up would be this coming Monday, August 29, while also reporting that there is blacktop down all the way to Fox Road, from Ervin Road, on South Washington Street. He also said, though, that the Fox Road/Hospital Drive intersection with Washington Street will be closed for 40 days, starting the Wednesday after Labor Day.

Law Director John Hatcher also addressed the code violation issue, noting that he is working with other city officials to streamline the process of enforcing code violations.

“So far, it’s been more effective than in the past,” Hatcher said, adding that he is continuing to further improve that process. “You might be seeing some proposed legislation from me (addressing further improvements).”

The law director said traffic cases in Municipal Court are still very high, with literally hundreds of cases stemming from the closure of Washington Street.

“We are going to shatter any caseload (record) we have had,” Hatcher said.

In the legislative portion of the regular Council meeting, City Council approved providing $1,000 for a cat-neutering program in the city, while also approving several supplemental appropriation ordinances, as well as a then-and-now certificate to pay $20,000 as the first payment from the city to the Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation.

The mayor also reported on the VWAEDC, noting that the board has finalized a job description for an economic development director and is currently working to hire someone for that position.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of Van Wert City Council will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday, September 12, in Council Chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Building, 515 E. Main St.