MASON CITY, IA-- Mason City homeowners get the nod on 2 items passed by the City Council Tuesday night.Council members are opting to only allow sidewalks on the Southside of Highway 122.The stretch of roadway from Pierce Avenue to Cerro Gordo Way is about to be widened by the Department of Transportation.H
omeowners offered convincing arguments about why a sidewalk should only be placed on the Southside of the street, across from their homes, rather than on the Northside of the street as well.
In several cases homeowners told council members they would be forced to sell right of way for the project at record low prices.
As it turns out, sidewalk or no sidewalk, they will still have to sell the right of way because it is needed for utilities which will be moved for the widening.
Homeowners also worried about the cost of clearing a sidewalk of snow and many said they are on fixed incomes.
O
ne of two
councilmen who voted no on the Southside only sidewalk option believes it is a
fairness issue.
Councilman J
eff M
arsters said, "T
hat's why I
voted no because you do one, you do both and as you know I
was for a bike path but it’s too late once its being handled in a different location not far away, so that made sense."
In a related move having to do with the same piece of roadway
, council also awarded a contract to WHKS & Company for professional services related to the Highway 122/Cheslea Creek Bridge widening project.C
ouncil members also voted in favor of mowing properties targeted for flood buyouts.
.T
he city will then assess the owners for the cost at the time they are bought up by FEMA with the placement of a lien on the property.
The city will waive its usual $50 dollar administrative fee and only charge for the costs of the mowing
Council members would also like to assemble a list of volunteers who are willing to help with the mowing, rather than forcing the city to do it all.
In other action, council also authorized six identified priority projects to be funded from $201,000 from the Community Disaster Grant Program. One of them includes $22,000 to repair flood damage done last year to the East Park Bandshell.
