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Commissioner Genter
stated that at the View in this matter their concern was safety
along County Road 19 and as such, there could be a need for a
sidewalk. He further stated that work and research had been
done on this project and would like to offer this input at this
time. He turned the discussion over to County Engineer, Frank
Onweller.
Mr. Onweller,
presented the Board with a preliminary cost estimate for work
along CR 19 pursuant to the petition that was filed. The
petition called for construction of a sidewalk from State Route
2 to the railroad tracks to the North edge of Pettisville. The
Engineer’s estimate was based on work from the railroad tracks
to the south edge of the parking lot at the Das Essen House with
a 6 foot wide sidewalk for pedestrian and bicycle traffic. A
culvert would also require extending. The preliminary cost
estimate is $157,020. He addressed assessments to landowners
and stated that pursuant to the prosecutor’s opinion that he
received only abutting property owners may be assessed and
further, the assessment cannot exceed the amount in which it
would increase the landowners property value. In his opinion,
that would not generate enough cash to proceed with this
project.
Steve Brown,
Director of Regional Planning, was present to address an
alternative. He stated that ODOT had awarded $20 million for a
new program titled the Safe Route and School Program. Having
qualified, this would allow for the sidewalk to be put in with
100% being funded by this program as opposed to landowners being
assessed. He noted that ODOT received so many requests that hey
had to break it down into a new program that would allow funding
for studies to be conducted. He stated that Pettisville was
awarded $6K and that this area could be included in these
studies. The process would be starting next month and would
include input from school districts, townships, residents, and
the county.
Several landowners
affected by this offered input for consideration:
Mr. William Hoops
stated that they already fund the busses that pick up on the
north side of the tracks and to put in a sidewalk seems to be
waste because it will be paid for with state tax dollars, which
will cost them anyway. Commissioner Genter stated that this
program will be funded and if the funding does not go to
Pettisville, it will still go somewhere else.
Ms. Toni Ballin
questioned how many students would actually use the sidewalk and
further noted that the issue seems to be with the speed limit
signs and that there are none in town. The Board stated this
was because it is an unincorporated village and that they are
not enforceable.
Mr. Merrill Kane
proposed the option of widening the road and putting in a bike
path instead.
Ms. Sheryl Snow
shared concerns relating to property taxes going up if a
sidewalk is put in due to it raising the landowners property
value. She further noted that they would also become
responsible for the upkeep of the sidewalk. Mr. Onweller stated
that he did have a conversation with the County Auditor relating
to the tax issue and was informed that while they they will note
when assessing properties that there is a sidewalk, it does not
increase the assessed value. Commissioner Genter stated that as
he has served on the Board of Revisions it has been his
experience that when evaluating homes, sidewalks were not a
consideration.
Mr. Randy Beck
inquired that should the sidewalk be put in, how much liability
would the property owner bear should something happen.
Commissioner Short
inquired of those in attendance that should costs to the
landowners not be the issue would there be any interest in
having the sidewalk put in? Concerns involving not having
enough frontage on many of the properties were spoke of and also
the issue of shoveling and upkeep.
The Board stated
that this matter would be further handled through Regional
Planning and the ODOT Safe Routes and Schools Program and that
the residents were encouraged to attend the meetings to voice
their input. |
