Does it seem fair that the city forces you to have a sidewalk running through your property?

Yes, it seems right. Usually, the sidewalk is on city property. It may look like your property, but where does your property really end??
(I have no sidewalk or curb and five feet of lawn out by the street that isn’t my property!)

If it’s on city property shouldn’t they be responsibly for maintaining it?

I think requiring a sidewalk is fine.
I also think requiring you to keep it clean, to shovel snow, or to spread gravel on it during winter to prevent slipping, is also fine.
Repairs or deep cleaning however should be the city’s responsibility.

I agree with that. But our side walk is in such bad shape, with cracking and uplifting, that it needs to be replaced.

Visit City Hall, complain !

In my city sidewalks are replaced/repaired by the city. They don’t do it themselves but bid and hire contractors to pour new concrete. They are doing three streets downtown and have two different crews.

I’ve been calling all morning. Nobody’s answering.

Contact the local media (newspaper, radio/tv station) see if can get someone there interested !

In my town sidewalks are mandated in certain areas and yes, it is the homeowners responsibility to maintain and clear it.

And come up with the money to replace it when necessary @janbb?

Finally got a hold of someone. I’m just SOL. That just isn’t right.

Yup.

Well, if there are any holes, just fill em up with cement. Or sand.

Whole blocks are uplifting, but I do have some holes. I’ll keep that in mind, Raggy. Thanks.

Here’s our ordinance:

https://ecode360.com/36452635

I wonder how expensive.it would be to.replace it? It’s approx 140 feet.

I had mine done some years ago but it was part of a driveway redo too. Don’t remember what the total was.

Had a neighbor redo his driveway, many thousands $$, tree root damage.

Call around to a couple of paving contractors and ask for bids in writing.

Why wouldn’t you want to keep it up for the good of the community? You might get the rules changed, but it is unlikely. Meanwhile, your broken up section of sidewalk is a safety hazard. And if you wanted to get rid of the sidewalk you are taking away something that many other people have used and enjoy.

Money @seawulf575. I don’t know if I can afford it. It was not my idea to put it in, I didn’t ask for it to be put it. They just put it in and now I have to spend hundreds repairing it.
Something is wrong with this picture.

It would seem like a fair trade. You do a little upkeep on the sidewalk and the sidewalk keeps people from ambling across your lawn…

I’d rather they amble across my lawn. Make a path. It’s all good.

Yes, mud is good…

It doesn’t rain constantly here. Plus we don’t have enough foot traffic to even make a path.
Some people just let the grass
grow over the sidewalk so you don’t even know it’s there.

So who is telling you that you need to fix it?

I’m telling myself.

@Dutchess_III If you have a problem with it, why don’t you check with the town and see if you have to have it and if not, take it out?

I did. Sure. I can take it out. But then I have to put a new one down.

@Dutchess_III: What does your city code say specifically about it?

I just spoke to the city clerk. She said that’s what the code said.

Also, she has the same problem.

Maybe I’ll mosey in to the next city meeting.

@Dutchess_III: It’s always best to read specifically what things say, instead of relying on what people tell you.

Believe me, working with contracts and under a labor contract for 25 years, I know that it’s best to read specifics.

I’ll see what I can find. I’ll let you know.
Would those records be public?

@Dutchess_III Ifound ours by looking at the township’s website. It will be an ordinance which should certainly be public even if not online.

@Dutchess_III

Sec. 70–45. – Procedure for ordering construction or reconstruction.

The resolution providing for the construction or reconstruction of a sidewalk shall give the owner of the abutting property not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days after its publication in which to construct, or cause to be constructed or reconstructed, the sidewalk at his own expense. Such resolution shall be published once in the official city paper. If the sidewalk is not constructed by the property owner within the time specified, the governing body shall cause the work to be done by contract and the cost thereof shall be assessed against the property abutting on such sidewalk.

(Code 1973, § 20–105)

State Law reference— Similar provisions, K.S.A. 12–1805, 12–1809.

Well that sucks.

I wonder if I could complain and have them fix it, then pay an extra $20 a month on my utility bill until they’re paid back….?

Why not get some quotes first before getting too excited? It might not cost as much as you think.

Yeah. I started to do that yesterday but the one site I went instantly demanded my name, address, email address, phone number and favorite color. I hate that.

@seawulf575 Interesting that some people can make an argument like yours for sidewalks, but not when it comes to substituting a different responsibility:

“Why wouldn’t you want to wear a mask for the good of the community? You might get the rules changed, but it is unlikely. Meanwhile, your actual or potential covid infection is a safety hazard. And if you wanted to get rid of the health precautions, you are taking away protections that many other people depend on for their own health and safety.”