City accepting sidewalk repair applications

Thursday, April 29, 2010

GREENCASTLE -- The city recently passed a resolution establishing a sidewalk improvement program and is encouraging property owners to partner with the city in this matching funds program.

The program is designed to encourage the reconstruction, repair and replacement of sidewalks within the Greencastle corporate limits. With ever-decreasing public funds available for public works projects, it is imperative to make every dollar count.

With the help of willing residents, the city will be able to repair or replace twice as many sidewalks.

Property owners have the opportunity, between now and May 14, to apply to be part of this program. If an application is accepted, the owner would pay 50 percent of the cost of sidewalk repair.

Once applications are accepted, a committee consisting of the city engineer, city attorney and public works superintendent will consider all applications. They will be ranked according to public safety considerations including location and state of repair. Priority will be given to residential properties.

When the city determines which sidewalks will be included, those areas will be included in this year's sidewalk bid. After the lowest bid is accepted, the city will determine the cost of individual properties and the owner will be billed for 50 percent.

No work will be done on a property before payment is received.

Applications are available at city hall and are due May 14. For more information, contact city engineer Garth Hughes at 653-0445 or city attorney Laurie Hardwick at 655-2301.

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  • Absolutely ridiculous, npgrad2008...the city should be responsible for the whole bill. What I find interesting is that they, once again, are repairing sidewalks, yet there is STILL no sidewalks on Sunset Drive...after being promised "next year" every year for the past 17 years from the previous administration. I cannot tell u how many times the sidewalks on Depauw campus have been replaced/repaired during that 17 year period. Get with it, Greencastle!

    -- Posted by mkycrzy1971 on Thu, Apr 29, 2010, at 7:12 AM
  • I don't care about sidewalks on Sunset Dr. I would just like to have that street repaved.

    -- Posted by dumpsterdiva2 on Thu, Apr 29, 2010, at 7:36 AM
  • Exactly, dumpsterdiva2...that was promised by the previous administration as well! We have lived on Sunset dr for 17, almost 18 years...it has been repaved one time...I repeat, ONE TIME during that period and that was at least 15 years ago! However, every time we turn around they are repaving roads through Depauw campus. It's a shame that politicians cannot at least tell you the truth rather than saying "next year"...it sure has been a long year !!!

    -- Posted by mkycrzy1971 on Thu, Apr 29, 2010, at 8:39 AM
  • You should see the shape of the road over on the East side of the Big Walnut Sports Park (by the soccer field entrance). I'm surprised that my car hasn't been swallowed whole. The roads around Gcastle and the 2-mile fringe need some serious repairs, before someone gets hurt.

    -- Posted by MsBehaving on Thu, Apr 29, 2010, at 10:38 AM
  • You need to take a ride out near the Belle Union area. Some of the roads are so bad that drivers are driving on the wrong side of the roads to get around ft. deep pot holes. Also, some of the roads are actually breaking up to the point that they are more like gravel! You can be driving down a nice paved road then all of a sudden it is full of pot holes and looks like gravel in areas...you have just crossed over into Putnam County from Hendricks County. Why does Putnam have the worst roads in the whole area?

    -- Posted by Questions on Thu, Apr 29, 2010, at 12:39 PM
  • ...and remember people, we just had our property taxes raised by at least 1/3!!! Do something useful with that money rather than spending un-Godly amounts to have a website built...honestly! Seems to me it is time to vote out the democratic party...before "next year" becomes a life time!

    -- Posted by mkycrzy1971 on Thu, Apr 29, 2010, at 1:37 PM
  • Actually I am quite worried about the roads for the entire county and cities. They are actullay going to get in a condition that it will be impossible to repair or replace the roads needed due to the total cost with miles of road unuseable. Year to year it is pushed off for no funds. 80 to 90% of the funds go to the schools...so I have seen. I think its time to come up with a plan to start taking care of the roads and look at school district consolidation. Get the costs down so the infastruture does not crumble beyond repair and I am willing to say we are closing in on that very fast.

    -- Posted by G-boy2008 on Thu, Apr 29, 2010, at 3:25 PM
  • Anyone traveled on Percy Julian Drive near the high school lately?

    There are bombed-out roads in Afghanistan better than those in the City of Greencastle.

    -- Posted by ProblemTransmission on Thu, Apr 29, 2010, at 4:01 PM
  • Amen to Percy Julian Dr. Add to that the street from Krogers to Veterans Memorial Highway.

    -- Posted by dumpsterdiva2 on Fri, Apr 30, 2010, at 7:25 AM
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