Possible town sidewalk projects proposed
The list of sidewalks that need attention in downtown Nashville is larger than the pot of funding the town has to deal with them, Town Manager Scott Rudd told the council.
At the April 20 meeting he presented a list of the top 14 areas most in need of attention and recommended focusing on the safety hazards.
The town budgeted $20,000 this year for sidewalks — same as last year when the budget was quadrupled, Rudd said. Last year the town was able to make “huge progress” in correcting safety issues and adding new sidewalks, but a lot of work remains to be done. The list includes:
1. Adding a sidewalk to the History Center along the north side of East Gould Street from Van Buren Street. Rudd said there’s no way for people to get to the History Center except by walking in the street or across the courthouse lawn.
2. Adding a sidewalk from Van Buren Street to Honeysuckle Lane. The owner is requesting it, the list says.
3. Adding a sidewalk from Hawthorne Hills apartments to State Road 46 on the east side of Hawthorne Drive. Residents in that area are walking along the side of the street in the shopping center or driving motorized chairs in the road.
4. Adding a ramp and crosswalk at Schoolhouse Lane on the south side of Main Street near the Brown County Career Resource Center, where the speed limit was lowered for school safety last year.
5. Painting two new crosswalks across Van Buren Street, one by Schoolhouse Lane and another near Sweetea’s. The Indiana Department of Transportation can fund those since Van Buren Street is also a state road, the list said.
6. Adding a sidewalk alongside the new visitors center on Van Buren Street, at the Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau’s request.
7. Redoing the tiered sidewalk along the west side of the courthouse. It doesn’t meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards and is deteriorating, the list says.
8. Replacing a sidewalk section north of the Village Green on the east side of Jefferson. Safety cones are marking trip hazards in the brick and concrete sections, the list says.
9. Replacing the sidewalk in front of the old Muddy Boots on Van Buren Street. The building owner has requested the town’s 50-50 sidewalk match program, Rudd said.
10. Adding a sidewalk from the town’s Pat Reilly parking lot to Van Buren Street. This is on the parking commission’s priority list.
11. Replacing an asphalt section on the west side of Jefferson north of Molly’s Lane. The property owner — Town Attorney James T. Roberts — has requested the town’s 50-50 sidewalk match program. Speaking as a resident, he offered again in the meeting to “pony up” his share.
12. Replacing the asphalt sidewalk in front of the Heritage Mall which sees heavy pedestrian traffic. The owner has requested a 50-50 match.
13. Replacing the patchwork sidewalk in front of Touch of Silver, Gold & Old. The owner has requested a 50-50 match.
14. Adding a sidewalk from Van Buren Street to the Pioneer Village. Visitors are walking across the courthouse grass to get there.
The town council did not take any immediate action on the recommendations.
Town ordinance reminders: Signage, property lines
It’s that time of year when residents want to advertise their yard sales in downtown Nashville. However, lampposts and signposts along state and town roads are not the place to do it, town council President “Buzz” King said.
“Please go to the hardware and get some stakes,” he said.
“Please don’t staple, nail, glue or stick things to our $10,000 light posts.”
The second part of his “Notes to Note” reminders for April: “If you plan on doing any kind of work, please, if you don’t know where your property line is, find out first.”
