Sidewalk Improvement Program

2020 Sidewalk Improvement Program

As shown on the adjacent map, the target neighborhood area for 2020 is bounded by Main Street (west), 13 Mile Road (north), Farnum Avenue (south), and the city limits (east). The awarded contractor is Italia Construction Inc. of Washington, Michigan.

Notice of Construction letters will be mailed in the Spring that include the estimate of sidewalk work adjacent to the property. Sidewalks will be removed and replaced in the target area over the summer construction season and disturbed lawn areas will be restored with topsoil and seed.

Payment Plans

Property owners must submit Payment Plan Request forms
to the Engineering Division by October 31, 2020

If you would like to have your cost for the sidewalk improvements spread over a longer period of time, you can fill out a Sidewalk Payment Plan Request form. This will be reviewed by the city commission. If approved, payment plans will be billed through the treasurer's office, typically spread over six years with a maximum 6% interest rate. Interest rates and time period are established by the city commission prior to billing. Plans can be paid off at any time without penalty through the treasurer's office. Currently, this is the only payment plan offered by the city and you must elect this option prior to receiving your bill.

Exemptions

In the spring, after receiving the construction notification letter with your estimate for sidewalk improvement, you can schedule a meeting with the project manager for concerns regarding your sidewalk. If you still disagree with the proposed sidewalk to be replaced, the project manager will give you an Exemption Request form to fill out and submit to the city engineer, who will review it and make a final decision. The exemption must be approved before the city’s contractor arrives on your street.

General Timeline

FALL

During the fall, the Engineering Division begins inspecting existing sidewalks and determines which sidewalks exhibit deficiencies requiring correction in accordance with the approved s

idewalk replacement criteria.

SPRING

In the spring of each year, homeowners in the designated target area will be notified of the specifics of the program, and in particular, the deficiencies identified on the sidewalk adjacent to their property that they are responsible to maintain as outlined in City Code §650. A cost estimate will be included in the notification letter. The Engineering Division will begin addressing property owner concerns only after notifications have been sent out in the spring.

SUMMER

Removal and replacement of sidewalk happens throughout the summer construction season, generally from May through October. If more work is required than the original letter estimated, property owners will receive an updated estimate on their front door.

WINTER

Single, one-time invoices are mailed to the current property owner typically in January or February.

Sidewalk Improvement Program