Sidewalk problem pointed out

A Coulee Dam resident asked town officials what they planned to do about some of the town's sidewalks that need repair.

Fred Netzel had reviewed the town's Six-Year Street Plan and asked the council if it could designate over $600,000 to repair its streets, why council members couldn't also address the sad status of many of its sidewalks.

City Clerk Stefani Bowden told Netzel that the street plan was only a wish list that the town had to create every year, and that there wasn't money available for the streets.

"The six-year street plan is required every year by the state and needs to be in place before the town can seek grant money," she noted.

Netzel had raised the sidewalk problem before. One stretch of sidewalk on Stevens Avenue has one slab that sticks up almost seven inches, an immediate safety issue, Netzel pointed out. He stated that if someone was injured the town could face a lawsuit.

Spokane Street, Ferry Avenue, Sixth Street, Central Drive and North Columbia Avenue all have raised slabs that could end up as safety issues, Netzel stated in his report.

Former council member Bonnie Femling said roots from a tree had raised a sidewalk section in front of her house, and she wondered if she could cut the root. She was advised not to, but to write out a report and leave it at town hall and the town crew would look into it.

Netzel offered the idea of removing the raised slabs and just replacing them, so the town could avoid problems with public safety.

The town has not indicated that it plans to immediately turn its attention to sidewalks.