Champaign City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to amend a bill on sidewalk agreements with eight property owners adjacent to Staley Road. As a result, the bill has been tabled for further discussion.
The original purpose of the bill was to authorize City Manager Dorothy David to execute the Staley Road Sidewalk Cost Share Agreement. The agreement allows the city to share part of the cost in constructing sidewalks. Last year’s bid prices amounted to more than $45,000. According to the report, there were some property owners who did not agree to pay for sidewalk construction. Without property owner funding, the city cannot proceed with the construction, which is projected to cost more than $58,000 this year.
Thomas Bruno, deputy mayor, said one of the eight property owners, Barrington SS Trust, has not disclosed the identity of its owners. Because of this, he said he would give no vote on this matter.
Council Member Marci Dodds, District 4, said that she agrees with Bruno. She said she would support the removal of Barrington SS Trust but will not be willing to vote on this.
“It’s a violation of the public trust,” said Dodds. “I will not vote for it unless I know who the owners of the Barrington Trust are.”
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Fred Stavins, city attorney, said the cost share agreement with the residential property owners, both inside and outside the city, makes the owners pay 25 percent of the cost, which, for Barrington SS Trust, is more than $2,200. However, Stavins said that it is possible to remove Barrington SS Trust to avoid the extra delay and possibly have the city cover that property’s costs.
Deborah Feinen, council member at-large, said she thinks it will cost more if the council waits, and it will be inconvenient for people who use the sidewalk.
“If having that little section of the sidewalk is that important to us, we can approve it,” Feinen said. “I am in favor of the motion.”
Bruno also said sometimes it is necessary to use legal action to force the owners of all properties on Staley to pay for the cost. He said it will not be fair to other people who pay for the cost.
“Even though it doesn’t make economic sense, sometimes the city has to have principles,” Bruno said. “We have to enforce them to be fair to everybody else who does their fair share of the cost.”
The council will consider discussion at a later date.
Earn can be reached at [email protected].
