(EL DORADO, Kan.)
For as long as Wayne Turner has lived at his El Dorado home, his sidewalks have been cracked, raised and crumbled.
"I've been wanting to get it fixed for a long time but I haven't been able to do it myself so, I'd have to get the city to do it."
Like many people, he assumed problem spots were up to the city to repair. Turns out El Dorado, like many cities, has an ordinance that says the homeowners are actually responsible for repairing their sidewalks.
And Tuesday night commissioners will look at the idea of enforcing that ordinance. Tuner adds, "Why is it on my dime? That's the only thing I can say about it."
City engineers estimate that a broken sidewalk tile will cost about $70 dollars to replace. In order to help homeowners afford the work, the city has a program where the cost of repairs is added to the homeowners property taxes over 10 years, interest free, as a special assessment.
