St Joseph sidewalk cost-share program helps property owners keep sidewalks in good repair | Local News | newspressnow.com

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

The city’s Commercial/Residential Shared Cost Sidewalk Replacement program offers an incentive for property owners who want to redo the sidewalks or curbs on their property and the funds used for it are more available than they once were.

When the program was started in 2000, it was a at least a 50-50 cost share between the city and property owner.

Currently, after a property owner hires a city-approved contractor and the work is complete, the city will reimburse the owner for $2.50 per square foot of sidewalk and $10 per foot of curb.

MoBikeFed comment: Cities across Missouri (and the U.S.) often have trouble keeping sidewalks in good repair, because often the sidewalk maintenance is the responsibility of the adjoining property owner.

(This is a far different situation from roads--public roads are always the reponsibility of the city or other government agency.)

St. Joseph has developed a good solution to this problem, but helping property owners defray the cost of maintaining the sidewalks they are responsible for. This is a good model for other Missouri cities to look at.

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