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Council hears multi-year sidewalk assessment plan for 2025; staff to return with mailing list and hearings
Summary
Project supervisor Terry Johnson presented proposed sidewalk assessment areas focused on schools, parks and Dakota Wesleyan; council endorsed pursuing a phased approach with code enforcement options and directed staff to prepare notices and hearings early next year.
The council spent an extended portion of the meeting reviewing sidewalk assessment plans proposed for 2025. Terry Johnson, project supervisor, described proposed redlined areas near Dakota Wesleyan, neighborhoods with code-enforcement issues and connections around schools and parks intended to reduce pedestrian travel in the street.
Johnson said property owners may build sidewalks themselves under permit or the city will bid the work; if owners don’t comply the city will add the work to its contractor list and assess the property. He also described payment options: property owners may pay lump sum with no interest or opt for a 5-year tax assessment at 8% interest. Johnson proposed early–mid summer hearings and anticipated bringing an updated list of properties in January.
Council members encouraged more advance notice for affected property owners (suggested a year’s notice rather than six months) and asked staff to produce a 3–5 year plan so residents can plan financially. Staff estimated roughly 50 affected properties in the next phase and said the work could be completed within a year depending on contractor availability.
Next steps: staff will return in January with the property list, schedule assessment hearings for February–March and provide citizens with earlier notice of the multi-year plan.
