By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
The City of Decatur’s 50-50 sidewalk improvement program is nearly depleted for this year, and Mayor Dan Rickord says that’s a good thing.
“Really, this is great. It means we’re improving our neighborhoods,” he said following a report on the program presented by Building/Zoning Superintendent Curt Witte at a city council meeting.
The city puts $50,000 into the program each year, and began this year with $64,557.69, which included some carryover from last year.
Already this year, Witte explained, $29,114.31 has been spent improving 10 sidewalks. That leaves $35,443.38 in the fund.
However, the city has 11 signed contracts for more improvements which had not yet been started at the time of the report. Those contracts will require an expenditure of $28,372.74, leaving just $7,070.64 for this year.
Out of that $7,000-plus, “we might be able to squeeze out another four or five (improvements),” Witte said.
Once those funds are depleted, Witte added, his department will sign no more contracts for 2023. “We will, however, start taking contracts for next year,” he said.
Under the 50-50 program, the home/ business owner pays 50% of the cost of a sidewalk it wishes to improve, with the city picking up the other half. Under a program revision this year, however, residential improvements may be done with the owner paying just 25% and the city taking care of the rest; then the owner has one year to pay back the city for the remaining 25%.
