Planning & Zoning Commission continues to work on the city's sidewalk improvement plan

A map of the four circles of the sidewalk improvement plan, with this year's letters going to property owners within the first circle (everything outside the fourth circle will be in the fifth year of the plan)

The City of Decorah's Planning & Zoning Commission will be the first stop for property owners wanting to appeal letters from the city ordering them to repair an existing sidewalk or install a new sidewalk where one presently doesn't exist.

P & Z Commission members spent Monday night discussing how they would handle cases in which a property owner appealed the city's order.  Letters have been sent out to around 140 property owners about the sidewalk improvement plan.  So far, only a few property owners have said they want to appeal the order.

P & Z members say they will handle appeals on an as-happens basis, in order to give every property owner a fair hearing.

At this point, property owners who received letters from the city have until next August to make the repairs or have a new sidewalk installed.  Property owners who do not take action by August 1st of next year will be sent certified letters stating that the city will have the work done and will bill the property owners for the cost.