Resident says relocated no-parking sign and sinkhole have made South Avenue parking unsafe for two handicapped drivers

Esther Wood, a South Avenue resident, told the Common Council she and her husband — both vehicles bearing handicap plates — now face greater difficulty entering and exiting their cars after a no-parking sign was moved to a pole directly beneath the couple’s handicap sign. Wood said the pole placement removed a small gap the couple used as a walkway, forcing her 69-year-old husband, a handicapped veteran with a prosthetic, to “trample through the grass” and contend with balance difficulties. The issue, she said, followed nearby development that reduced on-street parking and the city’s decision to place the relocated sign “on the pole ... for convenience,” which Wood said created an inconvenience for her household. Wood also told the council that a tree overhang above her car remains only partially trimmed, and that a sinkhole in front of 122 South Avenue has been reported “numerous times” without repair; she described the sinkhole as running lengthwise and said trucks striking it cause her house to shake. Vice Chair Shook told Wood, “We spoke earlier, and we’ll continue this conversation. I’ll follow up with you tomorrow for sure,” and the council meeting record shows a staff follow-up was promised. The transcript does not record a specific remedial action or timeline. Why it matters: The resident’s account raises accessibility and safety concerns for two people with mobility limitations and cites an unaddressed roadway defect that may affect nearby homes. Details and next steps: Wood said she handed photographs to a staff member identified in the meeting as Mr. Shook. She said DPW had moved a sign and that a nearby commercial driveway owner had raised concerns about sight lines, which she believes contributed to the relocation decision. The council did not vote or adopt any ordinance on the record related to the sign placement or the sinkhole; the mayor and council members acknowledged the complaint and pledged follow-up. The meeting transcript does not specify whether the city will reposition the sign, repair the sinkhole, or finish trimming the tree, nor does it include a maintenance ticket number or estimated repair date.