The TurnAround Team, Inc. General Meeting – 22 August 2005
Deb Swank, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7 PM. In attendance were 13 people.
1a. We started with a brief recap of the WSGA-TAT Cleanup. We agreed that “post mortem” should be done to figure how we can improve. One item is that we really needed crew chiefs for each of the teams. LINC will be doing a clean up in October and April so we have another shot at more work. Deb asked that everyone star building a list of projects.
1b. Deb led a brief discussion of the meetings on the College Hill Redevelopment project. The reality is that there are going to be a number of more meetings to attend to ensure success.
1c. The application for the Chesney Park Neighborhood Mural is in. We should hear by September 23rd.
1d. David Leamon is working on final budget numbers for the Aaron Douglas Celebration Mural Project.
2. Mark Thiel, Construction Manager for the City of Topeka Department of Public Works, gave a presentation about sidewalks. Topeka has about 700 miles of streets and about 65 percent of them have sidewalks on both sides. Sidewalks predate streets and all kind of materials have been used: wood, brick, cement, concrete and asphalt. For contemporary sidewalks, brick is one of the oldest materials and has a nicer appearance, but can be troublesome when it comes to maintenance. The best way is to keep them clean and leveled, keep vegetation out of them, and periodically brush in some sand. There are new brick sidewalk pavers manufactured in Kanopolis. The City / County Technical Specifications for sidewalks are all in a notebook that Mark left for use at the library. The City does require bricks to go back ONLY in historic areas. Property owners are responsible for the maintenance of sidewalks. (Property owners are also responsible for maintenance of curbs and gutters along the streets. What shortens the life of sidewalks? Trees in the easements (Adam Moser, City Forrester, will advise on trees and roots. His number is 368-3700.); Poor construction materials (especially concrete); Use of an unqualified contractor (all contractors in Topeka must be licensed); Misuse of sidewalks like driving or parking on them; and Failing to keep snow and ice cleared off. Salt to melt ice will not hurt a concrete sidewalk if it is installed correctly. The problem that often shows up is called scaling. Seal cracks in concrete as soon as they appear and they should last as long as 30 years. Major sidewalks repairs really must be done by a licensed contractor: Replacement; Mudjacking; and Grinding. These kinds of repairs require a permit, but it is free and must be inspected. If you are not the property owner you can call Public Works at 368-3971, file a complaint and make a Request For Action. There are ways to get CDBG funds to replace sidewalks in LMI-qualified areas. By City Code, sidewalks must be “navigable” to a person on crutches or in a wheelchair. Usually, a 1” separation in grade is out of compliance. Case law in the United States holds that property owners are liable for accidents / injuries on the sidewalks in front of their property. There is about $500,000 per year budgeted for ADA sidewalks cuts, which is administered by the Streets Division. A “Special Assessment” to install sidewalks in neighborhoods usually get paid out over a 15 year period. The best fix for scaling is to grind the concrete… it won’t damage the sidewalk if it not done too severely. Mudjacking is a good fix for leveling sinking panels. Right now concrete is selling for more than $100 per yard.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 PM.
People who are interested in improving the quality and image of Central Topeka, particularly people who live in or own property in the Central Topeka area from Monroe to MacVicar and 21st to the Kansas River, are particularly encouraged to attend. For further information, call 234-2883.