Grandview Heights council certifies sidewalk compliance list, amends payment language; second sidewalk measure not converted

Grandview Heights City Council approved a resolution on March 17 to certify plans, specifications and cost estimates for identified sidewalk repairs and to allow the city to notify property owners and proceed with work consistent with state law.

The action followed extended public comment and council discussion about program timing, contractor bidding, notification and the ability of homeowners to spread payments. Council also approved an amendment to the related second ordinance to add language that any assessment placed on property tax bills may be paid “over an extended period of time as may be determined by council.” A separate motion to convert that second ordinance to a resolution failed and a later motion to suspend the rules and pass that ordinance in a single reading also failed on roll call.

The certified measure (recorded in the meeting as O4) will allow the director of building and zoning to send letters to property owners showing a photo of impacted panels, the estimated cost and a timeline; property owners will be asked to respond and may either hire their own contractor or participate in the city program using the city’s bid price. Council members and staff said letters will include a photo from the GIS system, the cost for the work, and instructions for paying either up front or by having the amount assessed on the owner’s property tax bill.

Director Hughes, the city’s building and zoning director, described the program as “kind of a standard program — all municipalities in Central Ohio across Ohio use” and said the contractor bid process and vendor business cycle drive the timeline that makes swift action desirable. He and…