01/14/2013 Western section of S.W. 1st St. joins 2013 sidewalk program By: CHUCK CLEMENT, Staff Reporter The Madison City Commission approved a resolution on Monday that added a western section of S.W. 1st St. in the city as part of the 2013 sidewalk improvement program. The resolution named S.W. 1st St. from Chicago Ave. west to the city limits as one of two neighborhoods in which property owners are required to have sidewalks by the end of 2013. Resolution 2013-2 was tabled by the city commissioners for one week so that the City Engineer's Office could re-inspect the neighborhood. Property owners had argued on Jan. 7 that sidewalk builders would have difficulties installing concrete walkways on some city blocks due to lampposts and utility boxes that were already installed in the right of way. After inspecting the neighborhood, City Engineer Chad Comes decided that the neighborhood did not impose unusual conditions for the contractors to do their work. Mayor Gene Hexom told about a half dozen property owners that Madison was supporting the annual construction program partly due to the city's legal liability if a pedestrian was injured due to the lack of sidewalks or unsafe conditions from deteriorated sidewalks. Hexom said the property owners also benefited from having safe sidewalks because their legal liabilities were also reduced.

©Madison Daily Leader 2013