All new sidewalks must be handicapped accessible
Staff reporter
Making all sidewalks in the city handicapped accessible is something Marion City Council wants to make happen.
At the previous city council meeting, resident Barb Steiner asked the council to consider such an ordinance and at Monday's meeting the council determined it was a good idea.
Currently the city does not have an ordinance that requires all sidewalks to be handicapped accessible with ramps to city streets and private driveways. New construction of city sidewalks must meet ADA requirements but when residents replace sidewalks, ramps are not required.
The question was asked, "How would the city know when a new or replacement sidewalk is being planned?"
City administrator David Mayfield suggested a permit be issued at a nominal or no cost. Then the city could inform the resident of the requirement and check the work when completed.
An ordinance would have to be adopted to require the change. The council will review an ordinance at the next meeting.
In other business:
— Truck traffic on North Cedar Street brought resident Merle Bruner to the council.
"Truck traffic is getting outrageous," Bruner said, "particularly semis."
He said the trucks appear to be using North Cedar Street to make deliveries to downtown. He asked if Cedar Street was a truck route.
Mayfield responded that North Cedar is a city-county connecting link and he wasn't sure if the city could deny access. South Third Street also was a connecting link.
Bruner continued that semis are using North Roosevelt Street because they have a hard time making the turn from Kellison to Cedar Street.
"I thought you could keep semis out of residential areas," Bruner said.
His main concern was children crossing the street, particularly when the swimming pool opens. Bruner asked if a traffic count could be obtained that could distinguish between passenger and commercial vehicles.
Mayor Mary Olson said a traffic count may be advisable and the information may be helpful to the city's engineering consultants before the street is overlaid.
"The engineers said at a public meeting that the new street wasn't designed for truck traffic," Bruner said.
Speed was another concern of Bruner's on the street.
The council decided a traffic count was in order.
— A contract with city attorney Dan Baldwin was renewed for another year at $85 per hour.
— The council decided to change its meeting time from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Councilman Steven Smith said the 4 p.m. meeting time was sometimes difficult for him because of his job and generally he arrived at meetings by 4:10 or so. He suggested the meeting time be changed to 4:30 p.m. which would allow city officials to attend without earning compensatory time.
The next meeting will be at 4 p.m. until an ordinance is approved and published in the official city newspaper.
— A payment of $34,062 was approved to Hett Construction for the continued construction project of Arlie's Inc. at the industrial park. Smith asked if the contractors could be encouraged to purchase supplies and services locally. It was pointed out that the city does not own the building and cannot dictate to the owners how to construct the building.
— The council approved a city-sponsored golf team to support Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Marion County. The cost is $150. Olson opposed the expense, stating she wanted the golf members to pay for their own sponsorship.
— A resolution in support of Amtrak service at Peabody was signed by the council. There's a possibility that the passenger train could stop at Peabody which would be an economic asset to the community and county.
— A 15-minute executive session for attorney-client privilege was held with Baldwin and Mayfield
. No decisions were made when the meeting reconvened.
The next council meeting is at 4 p.m. June 2 at the city building.
