BERLIN– Construction on a sidewalk running from South Main Street to Stephen Decatur Park has hit a snag, and Berlin officials are becoming impatient.
The town completed requests for proposals on the project, but are waiting for easements from one property owner before construction can begin. Berlin officials unsuccessfully reached out to the homeowner several times last week.
“Think about if there is any way we can expedite the situation even if it means knocking on the door,” Berlin Mayor Gee Williams told David Gaskill, the town’s legal counsel, during a council meeting on Monday, Aug. 25. “This is ridiculous. Fortunately it happens very seldom when an entire community’s interest is being held hostage by someone who just doesn’t want to respond. We’ll go through all the hoops and everything we have to do, but this town will not be denied a sidewalk and safety so they can have access to the park.”
Water Resources/Public Works Director Jane Kreiter said the problem has been ongoing since July.
“There’s very few (easements) that we need – there’s just one holdout,” Kreiter said.
An easement is permission to enter onto a property without taking over possession of it, usually done for public or utility use, such as building a sidewalk.
Currently there is no sidewalk between South Main Street and the park.
“People are real protective of their property, and I think it’s just a miscommunication on my part probably – I’m not conveying the information well enough,” Kreiter said. “The holdout is concerned that if she gives us permission to put the sidewalks then eventually we’ll want more and more and more. Sometimes you just can’t convince somebody that it’s for the public good. We’re not trying to do anything malicious.
“There’s a lot of foot traffic to the park and those sidewalks are – desperately might be overkill – but they are necessary,” Kreiter continued. “That’s a heavily traveled area, and if somebody is walking and there aren’t sidewalks then you’re sharing the road with all the cars that are coming and going. It’s a safety issue.”
The town completed requests for proposals on the project, but are waiting for easements from one property owner before construction can begin. Berlin officials unsuccessfully reached out to the homeowner several times last week.
“Think about if there is any way we can expedite the situation even if it means knocking on the door,” Berlin Mayor Gee Williams told David Gaskill, the town’s legal counsel, during a council meeting on Monday, Aug. 25. “This is ridiculous. Fortunately it happens very seldom when an entire community’s interest is being held hostage by someone who just doesn’t want to respond. We’ll go through all the hoops and everything we have to do, but this town will not be denied a sidewalk and safety so they can have access to the park.”
Water Resources/Public Works Director Jane Kreiter said the problem has been ongoing since July.
“There’s very few (easements) that we need – there’s just one holdout,” Kreiter said.
An easement is permission to enter onto a property without taking over possession of it, usually done for public or utility use, such as building a sidewalk.
Currently there is no sidewalk between South Main Street and the park.
“People are real protective of their property, and I think it’s just a miscommunication on my part probably – I’m not conveying the information well enough,” Kreiter said. “The holdout is concerned that if she gives us permission to put the sidewalks then eventually we’ll want more and more and more. Sometimes you just can’t convince somebody that it’s for the public good. We’re not trying to do anything malicious.
“There’s a lot of foot traffic to the park and those sidewalks are – desperately might be overkill – but they are necessary,” Kreiter continued. “That’s a heavily traveled area, and if somebody is walking and there aren’t sidewalks then you’re sharing the road with all the cars that are coming and going. It’s a safety issue.”