Waverly Council discusses new sidewalk repair ordinance

Waverly Village Council met in regular session Monday, June 5 and an ordinance that received its first reading was the one that had the most discussion.

The agenda for the meeting states that Ordinance #48-2024’s purpose is to amend Ordinance #33-99, the City’s Special Assessment Policy.

The Ordinance reads, “Whereas the Village of Waverly wishes to to amend Ordinance #33-99 to require all sidewalk and driveway aprons to be 100% the responsibility of the developer or owner.”

Under the proposed legislation, the 100% rate will apply to residential or commercial properties and repairs or partial replacements.

The rates in the Special Assessment Policy states that for residential properties the rate is 50% paid by the owner and 50% paid by the village and for commercial properties 80% was paid by the owner and 20% paid by the village for new sidewalks and aprons and complete replacement.

The Special Assessment Policy also lays out the guidelines for curbs and gutters, which the new ordinance does not mention.

The 100% rate for driveways and sidewalks in new subdivisions or areas is unchanged from Ordinance #33-99.

The proposed ordinance also repels all prior ordinances that may conflict with the legislation.

“You want to do away with the only tax break the individual that wants to repair the sidewalk can get from the city,” Councilman Forest Blakeman said. “I ‘m not a bit in favor of it.”

In other council action, in a joint session with the Pee Pee Township Trustees, a resolution was passed to proceed to renew the current tax levy in excess of the ten-mill limitation for the purpose of maintaining and operating cemeteries in the village and Pee Pee Township.

Council then exited the joint session and passed a second resolution to renew the current levy. Both resolutions were passed as emergencies by unanimous votes.

Council also had the second reading of an ordinance to create regulations on mobile food trucks in the village and the first reading on an ordinance to vacate an alley that no longer exists, but remains on the books.

Waverly Village Council will not meet on Wednesday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth. The next meeting will be held Wednesday, June 26 in the council chambers in Canal Park.