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Cities warn proposed 2½-year notice for sidewalk repairs would delay hazard fixes
Summary
Witnesses from Minot and Bismarck told the House committee that House Bill 15-13’s proposed two-and-a-half-year window for property owners to repair sidewalks is too long; local officials described existing notice and special-assessment processes and urged a shorter, locally managed timeline.
Representative Laurie Van Winkle introduced House Bill 15-13, saying the bill would set a minimum timeframe for property owners to repair sidewalks before a municipality completes the work and assesses the property owner. The sponsor told the committee she brought the bill after a Minot constituent said a short city notice created a financial hardship.
City and advocacy testimony: Minot city manager Harold Stewart and city engineering staff described the local process: inspections or citizen complaints trigger an assessment; property owners are notified by certified letter and given options — repair privately or sign a waiver to have the city complete the work and later special-assess the cost. Stewart said letters in a recent case went out April 29 with a contractor-permit…
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