Two Rivers council approves $40,000 pilot to grind trip hazards, create assessment roll

Two Rivers city council on April 6 approved a one-year professional services agreement with Safe Step LLC not to exceed $40,000 to pilot a saw-cut and grinding approach to correcting small sidewalk offsets.

Director Heckaman and staff told the council the technique can reduce the need for full panel replacement by eliminating raised lips and tapering joints so panels meet ADA slope standards. City staff said the approach cuts repair costs from roughly $375–$400 per full panel to an estimated $20–$100 per joint for saw-cut repairs, allowing the city to address many more defects within a fixed budget.

Under the pilot, Safe Step will inspect priority segments (the vendor’s materials identify up to 8.65 miles of sidewalk for review), perform grinding where appropriate and feasible within the $40,000 cap, and document remaining full-panel replacement needs. The city will use the inspection results to prepare an assessment roll; property owners will be assessed for repairs under the city’s existing assessment process with up to five-year payback terms. Public works staff noted $20,000 of additional capital was budgeted to address terrace-tree damage that remains a city cost.

Councilmembers asked for estimated yields from the $40,000 cap. Staff said per-joint costs vary by severity but peer cities reported substantial additional repairs achieved through grinding versus replacement. The council approved the agreement by roll-call vote.

Next steps: Safe Step completes the inspection and grinding work up to the contract cap, staff compiles a proposed assessment roll and cost estimates, and council will consider the assessment action and any ordinance changes required to enable billing to property owners.