Wheelchair user asks council to fill short sidewalk gap on College Road

Tom McLaughlin, a Council Bluffs resident, told council members at the study session that a missing sidewalk segment on College Road forces him to use the street in a portion of his route to Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church and other nearby sites.

"I live at 1689 College Road...there's a sidewalk that runs from 1689 all the way down the hill until we get to the yard of Joe Gibbler," McLaughlin said. He described a gap of roughly one city block where sidewalk is absent in front of a private property at about 1621 Patrick Circle and said the absence forces him into the roadway. McLaughlin said he was told the Emmanuel project had offered to put in a sidewalk during construction but that the adjacent property owner had declined.

McLaughlin said the gap also affects other residents who walk or run in the area; he said Iowa Western cross-country runners and other pedestrians use both sides of the street and encounter the missing section. He said a flag on the back of his wheelchair proved distracting to parishioners when he attended services and that accessibility for late-evening events is a concern.

A council member said they would speak with the property owner, and staff said they would follow up. Jody (staff) was asked for contact information and the council member said, "I'll see what I can find out." No formal council action was taken at the meeting; the item was recorded as a citizen concern with staff follow-up expected.

The transcript indicates the sidewalk gap is roughly one city block between 1689 College Road and the corner where the sidewalk resumes toward Saint Patrick’s; McLaughlin suggested the property owner cited snow-removal concerns as the reason for declining a sidewalk.

The council did not commit a funding source at the meeting; staff and a council member said they would follow up with the property owner and return to council with information.