Marathon considers sidewalk inspections

By Kevin O’Brien

Marathon City residents with cracked or uneven sidewalks in front of their properties may get an opportunity in the near future to have them fixed, under a proposal presented to the village board last week.

Village administrator Steve Cherek told trustees on April 3 about Safe Step, a company that will inspect the village’s sidewalks and mark any sections in need of repair or replacement. The company would not charge for the inspections, but it would eventually seek a contract with the village to grind down the concrete in problem areas to prevent tripping hazards, he said.

Cherek said the village would pay for replacing any ramp approaches, but under its ordinance, property owners are responsible for the cost of repairing or replacing the sidewalk sections themselves.

“We’ve never had a plan in place for sidewalk repairs in the village,” he said, noting that Safe Step is working with other area municipalities on similar plans.

The village would decide exactly how much it wants to spend on repairs and replacements, he said, recommending the board focus on blocks that are slated to get repaved with new blacktop.

Cherek said the cost for grinding sidewalks is about a third to a quarter of the expense for removing the concrete. He said the sections could be ground down by as much as 1.25 inches, but above that, a total replacement would likely be needed.

In the past, village president Kurt Handrick said the village would respond to any sidewalk complaints by sending a notice to the adjacent landowner, giving them a chance to repair it themselves before the village steps in and does the work. He said he prefers doing sidewalk maintenance that way.

Cherek said Safe Step will provide cost estimates for repairing or replacing each section of deteriorated sidewalk, and those will be shared with landowners.

Trustee Keith Paul asked if the company does “mudjacking,” a process of injecting a mixture of water, soil and cement under a slab to level it. Cherek said Safe Step did not include any information about that option.

“To me, that seems like a better solution overall,” Paul said, noting that many sections of sidewalk in the village cannot be ground down because tree roots have grown underneath the concrete.

Trustee Jeff Lawrence said he is skeptical of what the sidewalk sections would be like after the grinding process and would like to see pictures of the company’s work. If the village is going to spend money on repaving streets, he said it would somewhat “defeat the purpose” by having inconsistencies in the sidewalk sections.

Cherek said he’s not asking the board to go out for bids or sign a contract at this point, but he plans on putting the item on a future agenda with more details about Safe Step’s process.

“I did not tell them that we were going to do anything,” he said. “I said I was going to bring it up to the board for discussion.”

The topic of sidewalk maintenance was part of an overview of road and utility projects planned for this year. Cherek said the village will need to borrow $310,000 to complete work on several streets, including resurfacing on Hemlock Street, from Fourth to Sixth Street, and on Fourth Street, from Oak to Pine Street.

Other business

n The board approved a certified survey map that clarifies the lot lines between two parcels west of CTH B, one owned by St. Matthew’s Evangelical Church and the other owned by the town of Marathon. Cherek said approval of the CSM will allow additional cemetery plots to be established.

n After a lengthy discussion, trustees approved a motion to pay Heartland Business Systems to install security cameras purchased by the village last year for $8,334. The total cost for installing five cameras was quoted at nearly $12,000, which would be split between the village and the water and sewer utility, but trustees decided not to mount a camera on the village garage as originally planned, bringing the village’s cost down to about $8,000.

n The board approved a new permit application for stenciling designs near the village’s storm drains. Cherek developed the permit after Marathon Elementary asked about a group of students stenciling the drains with images of a fish, along with the words “Dump No Waste. Drains to the River.” The designs are identical to ones previously painted near the drains. Cherek said he will require the school group to submit a detailed plan before a permit is issued. n The board held off on approving a new license for the mobile home park on Fourth Street, which has a new management company, Property Connection in Wausau. Before the license is renewed, Cherek said he wants to talk with the Marathon County Health Department about a recent inspection that revealed a few safety and maintenance issues that need to be addressed.

n The board approved an escrow account agreement with Kwik Trip, which has agreed to set aside $75,000 to go toward the possible establishment of traffic lights at the intersection of STH 107 and the new North Business Parkway north of STH 29. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has previously refused to approve additional stoplights on STH 107, but village officials believe that may change once traffic counts increase.

n The board reappointed Mike Telford to new three-year terms on the planning commission and the utility commission.

n The board accepted a series of low bids for the purchase of bulk road materials and the rental of equipment, which is needed to fix water main breaks and do other work.