Next year, Kokomo residents should expect to see new sidewalks installed in some neighborhoods. The Kokomo Common Council made sure that funding will be available in the 2015 budget to restart the city’s 50/50 Barrett Law program for individual homeowners.

Under the Barrett Law, homeowners are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the sidewalk in front of their property. When it is time to repair or replace the sidewalk, residents may request the work be done by the city, and they have five years to pay for it. With the city’s 50/50 program, the homeowners only have to pay half of the cost.

The city made a change to the program a few years ago, asking that the sidewalk replacement be done a block at a time, rather than by individual properties. At last week’s budget hearings, the council members had different ideas, which they shared with City Engineer Carey Stranahan.

Council member Cindy Sanders (R-5th) kicked off the issue, asking about the availability of the program, and Stranahan confirmed that it still exists.

“The full block 50/50 has been available to the residents who want to participate in it, and we’ve had a handful,” said Stranahan. “We are working on trying to restart the individual 50/50 program. It’s a challenging process to put together.”

“I know two people who would do it if we offered it,” said Sanders.

“When we did have it, it worked,” added council member Bob Cameron (D-2nd). “In my district, one of the biggest complaints I have is they aren’t able to use the 50/50 program.”

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“There is a reason that we switched to the full block,.” said Stranahan. “We were getting spotty sidewalks, and there were situations where one-third of the sidewalk would get replaced but the other places were still in bad shape. We switched to full block to take care of the other two-thirds.”

Council member Kevin Summers (R-at large) added that allowing the individual resident to upgrade sidewalks without the neighboring properties participating sometimes created a hazard.

“We actually see sidewalks where it’s flat, then the new section is raised four or five inches,” said Summers. “That’s not good. You’ll have more people potentially injured in that capacity than you would if the whole sidewalk was somewhat crumbled.”

The other council members expressed some doubt about Summers’ assertion and continued to press Stranahan for a commitment. The engineer agreed that the individual should be allowed to access the 50/50 program and explained that it will take some adjustment in his office.

“We have to put a lot of effort into the program,” said Stranahan. “It’s a full-time job for one person. I’ll get someone trained on how to do it.”

“I believe he understands that the council is appropriating the money, and we expect it to be used,” added council member Robert Hayes (D-at large). “The opportunity is there.”

The council gave its informal approval to the road and street budget, satisfied that the sidewalk program will be restarted in 2015.