Athens’ mayor reminds property owners they are responsible for keeping sidewalks accessible
By: Simon Molloy
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — The mayor of Athens reminded home and business owners this week they can be fined if the sidewalks in front of their homes make it difficult for people with disabilities to navigate.
Steve Patterson said at Monday night’s City Council meeting that if a sidewalk is heaved up more than half an inch above what is allowed under the Americans With Disabilities Act, the city will issue a warning, give a reasonable amount of time to fix it, and if it’s not fixed, the city can impose a $50 fine every day until the changes are made.
Patterson suggested property owners contact contractors to fix the sidewalk problems before fines are enforced.
Patterson acknowledged the ongoing problems with city sidewalks. “We have a lot that we have yet to do as a community,” he said. “It takes a community to get this work done.”
Timothy Traxler said he has concerns about the bricks. “The character of Athens is intertwined with the bricks, the university takes pride in its brick,” he said.
Traxler was adamant about keeping the bricks but said he was open to options. “I think it’s worth discussing ways to construct crosswalks that are ADA compliant … but bricks should remain a part of what makes this community and why people stay and live here.”
Rob Delach acknowledged that Athens is known for its bricks, but they bring challenges to accessibility as they shift over time.
The city has made progress when it comes to accessibility, Delach said, but there is more work to be done. “The city has fixed a lot of things including the curb ramps, but it’s the intervening spaces that are the challenge,” he said. “What the mayor talked about, enforcing code to get people to fix their sidewalks, may be the right step to take.”
Annah Korpi, the mother of a child with disabilities, said, “The theme of all this is participation. I really want my son to participate in sports, camps, dance and be with his peers and that’s the theme. We really want to participate in our city.”
Councilmember Beth Clodfelter said she applauds the city’s disability commission for its advocacy on this issue over the years. The improvements being made don’t just help people with disabilities, they help people with walkers, people with injuries and many more.
Councilmember Paul Isherwood challenged the argument that the bricks must be preserved everywhere, even in crosswalks. “I don’t know how that’s a fair conversation to say, ‘Sorry we like the look of the bricks, so you can’t access the sidewalk on the other side of the street.’” This fix could benefit all members of the community, he said.
Patterson noted that the city has already changed some brick crosswalks to concrete stamped to look like bricks.
If you notice sidewalks and streets that are not easily accessible, you can download the Athens Ohio City Source App and take pictures and add comments to notify the city of these problems.