[R.O. 2003 §405.070; Ord. No. 734 §3, 7-7-2005]
While the City of Buckner does not own the sidewalks within the City limits, it still bears responsibility under State law for ensuring that sidewalks are maintained in a reasonably safe condition.
[R.O. 2003 §405.080; Ord. No. 734 §3, 7-7-2005]
A. 
The Building Official shall conduct an assessment of all sidewalks in the City every three (3) years. After the initial assessment, this shall be done by inspecting one-third (1/3) of the sidewalks in the City each year in accordance with an assessment schedule to be implemented by the Building Official. The assessment and all reported problems shall be documented and a repair schedule developed. This information should be continually analyzed so that repair schedules can be altered as priorities change. In addition, other public access areas for foot traffic should be assessed and a schedule for repair established.
B. 
Public Works Department employees are to report any unsafe condition outside of the normal assessment. In order to do this, these employees shall be educated, at the expense of the City, on common hazards and instructed to report problems.
[R.O. 2003 §405.090; Ord. No. 734 §3, 7-7-2005]
A. 
The information collected during an assessment is in relation to hazards of foot traffic on public sidewalks and in other public access areas. The information shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
Location
Level of pedestrian traffic
Description of any cracks
Description of any heaving
Deficient draining
Low overhanging branches
Guy wires in walking area
Missing sections
Crushed areas
Excess slope (see Section 405.230)
Backfilling
Unsafe manholes and valves
Low signs
Priority of needed repairs
[R.O. 2003 §405.100; Ord. No. 734 §3, 7-7-2005]
A. 
Upon the advice of the Building Official, the Board of Aldermen may by ordinance or resolution condemn defective sidewalks, in accordance with State law, and may direct the Public Works Superintendent to remove the same and may provide funds for the construction of new sidewalks in their place. The following criteria shall be used by the Public Works Superintendent to designate who is to repair the sidewalk:
1. 
If the defects in a sidewalk were caused by faulty City infrastructure:
a. 
The Building Official shall seek budget funding for the next quarter or fiscal year from the Board of Aldermen.
b. 
The Building Official shall schedule time for City public work crews to repair the defective sidewalks.
2. 
If a sidewalk has deteriorated due to the property owner failing to maintain it or due to general deterioration of the concrete, then the procedures in this Subsection shall be performed in conjunction with Sections 405.110, 405.120 and 405.130.
a. 
The Building Official shall notify the property owner, by certified letter, of the defective sidewalk and the need for the property owner to repair the sidewalk per City ordinance.
b. 
If the property owner does not repair the sidewalk within the time frame designated, the Building Official shall obtain the services of an outside contractor to have the sidewalk repaired.
c. 
The office of the City Clerk shall have the bill levied against the property owner's tax bill at the County.
[R.O. 2003 §405.110; Ord. No. 734 §3, 7-7-2005]
For making and repairing sidewalks and sidewalk curbing, the cost thereof shall be levied as a special assessment on the lots and pieces of ground abutting on such improvements in proportion to the front footage thereof; provided, that corner lots shall be liable for the extension of curbs and sidewalks to the curb lines each way.
[R.O. 2003 §405.120; Ord. No. 734 §3, 7-7-2005]
Whenever any person fails or neglects to repair or build any sidewalk when ordered to be done by the Building Official within sixty (60) days of receiving such notice as provided by the City, except in winter months when the ground is frozen or has frost in it or the temperature is forty degrees Fahrenheit (40° F.) or below or in case of necessity for the general safety there is need of immediate repair of any sidewalk, upon the failure of any person to repair the same within fourteen (14) days after being notified to do so, the Building Official may without further notice cause such work to be done, keeping an account of the costs thereof and report the same to the Board of Aldermen for assessment and each lot or piece of ground abutting on such sidewalk, street, avenue or alley or part thereof shall be liable for its part of the cost of such work made along or in front of such lot or pieces of ground as reported to the Board of Aldermen. All tax bills issued in payment of such repair shall constitute a lien upon the property liable therefor until paid. Such tax bill shall be issued in favor of the City for such repairs and shall bear interest at the rate of eight percent (8%) per annum from date of issue. All such special tax bills shall be negotiable and shall be paid within thirty (30) days from date of issue; and as a penalty for failure to pay them within said time in all cases where legal proceedings are commenced for the collection of any such tax bills after expiration of thirty (30) days from the issue of such bill or bills, the holder thereof shall recover, in addition to the full amount of such tax bill or bills, all necessary costs and reasonable attorney's fees paid out or contracted by plaintiff to secure the final payment of such tax bill or bills.
[R.O. 2003 §405.130; Ord. No. 734 §3, 7-7-2005]
A. 
Sidewalks shall be constructed in accordance with Section 2300, APWA Street Specifications, latest edition, and Schedule 4 at the end of this Chapter.[1]
1. 
Permit. No person shall construct a sidewalk, nor shall any person maintain a sidewalk not heretofore constructed and used for such without first obtaining a fifty-dollar ($50.00) permit therefor from the Building Official.
2. 
Material/Concrete Condition.
a. 
Concrete shall have a twenty-eight-day minimum compressive strength of four thousand (4,000) psi (ASTM C31). The test capacity must be written on the load invoice.
b. 
Concrete must be started unloading within one (1) hour and completely unloaded within a maximum of one and one-half (1 1/2) hours from the load time as shown on the invoice.
3. 
Material Thickness. All sidewalks constructed inside the City limits of the City shall be a minimum of four (4) inches thick, except where they cross a driveway, in which case they will be a minimum of six (6) inches thick.
4. 
Minimum Width. No sidewalk shall be built less than four (4) feet wide. Where there is a handicapped accessibility ramp, the width shall be adjusted to the APWA standard within the guidelines of the ADA Act.
5. 
Reinforcement.
a. 
Sidewalk In Driveway. That portion of the sidewalk in the driveway approach will have the first eleven (11) feet from the curb reinforced with #4 re-bar, one-half (1/2) inch, on two-foot centers wired together on chairs.
b. 
Sidewalk Not In Driveway. Reinforcement shall be 6x6 W2.9 x W2.9 welded steel wire fabric.
6. 
Expansion And Contraction Joints. Expansion joints shall be placed at one hundred (100) foot centers. Contraction joints shall be placed at four (4) foot centers.
7. 
Handicapped Access. Where sidewalks abut a street, ramps shall be installed according to the APWA standards and Buckner ordinances for wheelchair accessibility with stamped pavers. See Schedule 5 to this Chapter for details.[2]
8. 
Finish. Sidewalk surfaces shall be broomed with a four-inch edge on all sides to include expansion and contraction joints.
9. 
City To Inspect. The City shall inspect the building of all sidewalks on any and all streets in the City and see that they are built in accordance with this Section.
[R.O. 2003 §405.140; Ord. No. 734 §3, 7-7-2005]
All street crossings built in the City shall conform to the specifications and material requirements that the City shall prescribe and shall be built with an inspection by the City Engineer or Building Official.