Riviera condo associations ask Lawrenceburg to consider taking over streets, snow removal

Riviera I and II homeowners asked the Lawrenceburg City Council on May 5 to consider incorporating their condominium streets into the city so the city would provide snow removal and routine maintenance.

Patricia Wells, president of Riviera I Homeowners Association, told the council, “this past winter, our HOA was invoiced over $41,000 for snow removal and salting our roads,” and said that recurring costs are straining maintenance and safety budgets for mostly senior residents. Diane Ward, president of Riviera II, spoke alongside Wells in the council chamber and urged officials to respond because many residents live on fixed incomes.

The request grew out of complaints that Riviera condos pay the same local taxes as other city residents but do not receive the city’s snow-removal service. Wells said Riviera residents also pay for fire protection on their electric bills and that the community “pays over $564,800 in taxes” collectively; she argued the city should consider parity in service. Residents asked the council to accept Riviera’s streets into the city corporation so the city would maintain them.

Council members and staff discussed practical and legal steps. Council member Tommy Roulette said the issue requires legal review and a field assessment. Council member Tony Abbott asked city staff and legal counsel to look at prior cases when neighborhoods were taken into the city, referencing a prior 3 Mile Ridge transfer. City attorney Dale Wheldon (recorded as Del/Dale in the meeting) and Brad (civil city general foreman) were asked to examine right-of-way, maintenance feasibility, and insurance/liability implications.

Council voted to “take it under advisement,” direct legal counsel to review documentation of past street takeovers, and have the general foreman inspect the Riviera streets and report back. The motion was placed on the record with a second and passed on a voice vote of “Aye.” Council members said they would add the item to a future agenda so counsel could complete its review; council discussed scheduling the matter for the next meeting cycle to allow time for research and documentation review.

The council did not adopt any ordinance or formally transfer the streets at the May 5 meeting; the action was a directive to staff and counsel to examine the legal and operational implications and return with findings. Residents requested a follow-up at the next regular meeting so the council could consider whether a hold‑harmless agreement or other contractual terms would be required before the city assumed maintenance responsibilities.

If the city pursues acceptance of Riviera’s streets, staff said they will need to review right-of-way widths, road surface standards, insurance exposures, and whether any prior agreements (for example, sewer or utility easements) affect the transfer. Council members emphasized they wanted a legal framework in place before committing to regular plowing to avoid unexpected liabilities.

The Riviera appearance came during the council’s public-comment period; council members thanked speakers and said the city is interested in helping but must “do it the right way.”