• Currently the city has a no-participation policy, leaving sidewalk work costs to property owners

By Tim Douglass

tdouglass@pctribune.com

Although the city took no action, Glenwood City Commissioners directed staff to look at ways the city could financially  participate in sidewalk maintenance and replacement in Glenwood.

Larry Zavadil, at last Wednesday’s meeting, told city commissioners he understands that the city’s current policy is “no participation” in sidewalk repair or maintenance work.  “I get that, it’s a policy where the property owner is completely responsible for maintaining and repairing sidewalks in the city,” he said.   “But I’d like to see some city participation because it’s not working this way,” he added.

Zavadil said citing the city’s no participation policy sounds like a broken record and he’d like to see some city participation so the total cost of sidewalk repair or installation “doesn’t always fall totally on the property owner.”  

“How do we make this work so everyone is in it together,” Zavadil asked.  “There’s a way to make this work that will improve the city.”  

Zavadil was at the meeting on behalf of Central Square, which recently installed a retaining wall on the south side of its property and wanted some financial participation from the city to reinstall a sidewalk along the retaining wall and on the boulevard to Franklin Street.  

“If you don’t care, that’s fine, then we’ll just return it to grass and forget replacing the sidewalk,” Zavadil said.  Replacing the sidewalk area with grass would provide cover and stop the erosion that can damage the wall, Zavadil explained.   He pointed out other sidewalks in disrepair.  “A no participation policy from the city on sidewalks is not doing anything to improve the community.”

City Commissioner Mavis Pattee asked “What’s the action plan on this?”  She stated that the city should be looking at a future plan to maintain sidewalks.  Commissioner Todd Gylsen agreed, suggesting that the city’s sidewalks should be on five-year plan, much like the streets.

City Administrator Dave Iverson said the sidewalk issue is complicated because the city does not assess specific benefitted properties for street, curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements.  “At this point, the work is done by the city with all taxpayers contributing to projects rather than a portion being assessed to benefitted properties,” he said.  

Commissioner Neil Haynes suggested the city look at dedicating a city-wide sales tax toward sidewalk maintenance.  “We need a robust funding source for sidewalks…” he added.

Iverson said he could include the topic on a future city agenda so that the city could spend some time talking about a plan.  He also stated that a dedicated sales tax with proceeds going to sidewalk repair and maintenance would be appropriate.    He suggested that a starting point for the city would be to inventory the city’s sidewalks and rate sidewalk condition throughout the city.  

In other business, the city commission:

•Approved another contract for services between Pope Soil and Water Conservation District and the city.  PSWC District applied and received another $50,000 Conservation Partners Legacy Grant from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to target and treat buckthorn in approximately 21 acres in Barsness Park.  This is Phase three of that grant that now totals $150,000 for buckthorn treatment in the park.

•Approved the second reading and adopted Ordinance No 11 regulating development in the Flood Hazard Areas of the city.  

•Approved a proclamation for Glenwood Lakes Area Welcome Center proclaiming Sept. 15-21 as “Welcoming Week” for newcomers to the city of Glenwood.  

•Approved August expenditures in the amount of $173,274.26.