Fairfield to replace sidewalks along 104 city streets

“Not every city has as thorough of a program as what we have,” said Fairfield City Engineer Ben Mann, adding many jurisdictions respond to citizen-initiated complaints. “By doing some work every year, and hitting every area every four years, we ensure very good walk-abilty and maintenance level for our sidewalks.”

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The average cost per homeowner is a couple hundred dollars, but it’s dependant on how much square footage is in front of am owner’s property, and if a driveway apron is required to be replaced. Property owners would be assessed $8-per-square-foot of sidewalk to be replaced, and residents would be charged $8.50-per-square-foot if a driveway apron needs to be replaced. Commercial businesses are assessed $9.50-per-square-foot.

The city’s contractor will start in late May and should wrap up work by mid-June. The cost of the work will be assessed on a property owner’s property tax bill.

Property owners can pay for their own work, but must follow the standards set forth and inspected by the city. More info can be found online at www.fairfield-city.org or by calling the Construction Services Division of the Public Works Department at 513-867-4218.

Part-time sidewalk inspector Rick Scalf walks every sidewalk in the city every four years.

“It’s a little smaller quantity than we’ve had in the last few years, which means they’re in pretty good shape,” he said. “Not really near as many (sidewalks) need repair as their had been.”

Scalf said the program is done “to try to keep the public safe” as they walk the streets.

“We have had a couple people fall down in the past and get injured, and that’s why why we do this program,” he said.

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FAIRFIELD SIDEWALKS

There are 104 streets that will have sidewalks repaired this year. Here is the list by ward:

Ward 1

Ward 2

Ward 3

Ward 4