Sidewalk Replacement Program
Residential Sidewalk Improvement Program
The Sidewalk Improvement Program assists property owners in meeting their legal requirements (City Code) by helping identify and repair hazards, as well as providing technical and financial assistance (where applicable). It is the policy of the City of Smithville to enter into a cost-share agreement with property owners within city limits to repair sidewalks. Additionally, the City will be improving ADA sidewalk ramps, settlement by stormwater inlets, and connecting the gaps in sidewalks. If a sidewalk is incorporated into an approach/driveway but not properly defined, the City will consider this as driveway approach and the owner will be 100% responsible for all costs to resolve any hazards.
Eligibility:
Single-family and single-family attached residential sidewalks. This program is not to be used for commercial or multi-family residential properties; commercial businesses and multi-family properties are responsible for 100% of the cost to make the sidewalks adjacent to their property safe.
Process:
To provide a more adequate response time, staff recommends using a contractor to perform the labor and materials for this program. The program would focus on one specific area each year. Each year the City will allocate a budget for the program. The program would have a 50/50 cost-share between the City and property owners. Staff would look at the various residential areas in Smithville and determine the area with the most need during the specific construction year. City staff will inspect sidewalks to identify any hazards. A hazard is defined as a sidewalk that could cause a person to lose their footing, trip or fall.
Hazard examples include:
- A vertical deflection of ½” or greater
- A gap or opening between concrete panels or a crack of ½” or wider
- Excessive spalling, cracking or delamination of the surface that could cause an uneven surface
- An area where the sidewalk panels have pushed up or settled downward
- Overgrowth in adjacent vegetation or excessive vegetation growing in cracks
- Excessive cross slope
Property owners would be notified of the project if their property is affected and would be able to enroll in the program or would be required to make the improvements themselves. Neighborhoods would also be able to use this program as a cost-share to improve gaps in sidewalk access. This change would allow the cost to be more accurate and prevent delays in construction since all the improvements would be in a similar area.
Schedule:
The City will send letters in February of each year to affected property owners. The letters will include the estimated cost for repair, and necessary steps to enroll in the program. Property owners will have 30 days to notify the City their intention to enroll in the program, repair the sidewalk themselves, or hire a contractor to perform the work. Property owners who elect to not enroll in the program will not be eligible for the City’s program benefits, including the contracting pricing, financial assistance, or warranty. Non-program participants will have 60 days to fix the sidewalk hazard.
To find more information, please visit the Sidewalk Replacement Program Policy.
If you would like to have your sidewalk inspected, please fill a form under our report a concern page. You can also see already inspected sidewalks in our GIS website.