Pictured, from left, are Zach Dripps, Michiana Area Council of Governments’ director of operations and community development; and Chad Salzbrenner, senior project manager at Fleis & VandenBrink. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

PIERCETON — Questions and concerns about a sidewalk project in Pierceton were addressed by the town council and the project’s staff during a Jan. 8 council meeting.

Prior to the regular council meeting, a second public hearing was held for the project. Michiana Area Council of Governments’ Director of Operations and Community Development Zach Dripps summarized the project for those in attendance.

The town is seeking a grant to help construct a six-foot-wide sidewalk on School Street to Third Street, and then on Third Street from School Street to Catholic Street.

Pierceton is one of three towns in Kosciusko County participating in the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs’ Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program. The HELP construction application for the sidewalk project is due Jan. 21. Pierceton is requesting $280,042 from OCRA for the project, with the remainder to be funded through monies Pierceton received through the American Rescue Plan Act.

Kim Rose expressed concern with the sidewalk possibly being placed on the east side of Third Street, wondering about trees in the area and ADA compliance. Chad Salzbrenner, senior project manager at Fleis & VandenBrink, said the current plan is to place the sidewalk on the east side but couldn’t give specifics on where it will be located, as the project is still in the planning process. He also said the sidewalk would have to meet ADA requirements.

“Anything we impact within the right-of-way would have to meet ADA requirements,” said Salzbrenner. “Sidewalk, driveway, anything we impact as part of this project will have to be ADA compliant. We also don’t know how many trees this will impact since we’re still early on in the process.”

Amanda Vandermark, a local social worker, attended the meeting to ask several questions on behalf of residents. One primary concern focused on liability if someone got hurt on the sidewalk and if that liability would fall onto property owners or the town.

Salzbrenner said the intent is to build the sidewalk in the existing right-of-way. Vandermark said she read the homeowner assumes liability for the sidewalk.

Town Attorney Tammy Keirn said she would have to review Pierceton’s ordinance on sidewalks.

“If you as a property owner are concerned about what happens if someone falls on the sidewalk, I would say talk to an attorney about your liability individually and look at your insurance,” said Keirn.

Vandermark also said there were concerns about who administered income surveys to residents in order to determine if the project would benefit a majority of people deemed lower to moderate income. She said one resident told her they were visited three separate times, with one instance involving a council member and their daughter.

“It was stated in multiple meetings that town officials would not get involved in that process,” said Vandermark. “At which point did that switch occur? People voiced feeling obligated to fill the survey out because of who showed up at that door. Were members of the town trained to give out these surveys?”

Dripps said they are often encouraged to get local representatives such as town council members involved in administering the surveys. He noted that he and others are certified to train others on how to go through the questionnaire. Council also said they would review their previous meeting minutes to see what was said about the survey’s administration.

“Whether they brought additional individuals with them, which may be the case, is not known to me,” said Dripps. “We’re encouraged to get local representatives to assist with that, especially since if you see strangers coming to the door, you’d be less likely to come to the door, which is often the case.”

Vandermark also asked why the sidewalk project couldn’t involve Pierceton’s Dollar General store. Council Member Matt Brubaker said the project’s stipulations would not allow the town to construct a sidewalk to the store or even in the downtown.

Salzbrenner said there would more than likely be no construction for the sidewalk project until 2025 and that there would be another public hearing focused on the project’s environmental aspects in the future.