(Spencer)– City officials in Spencer say an incentive program that assists residents in replacing sidewalks that are in poor condition continues to have a positive impact. Public Works Director Mark White says it’s been in place since 2013…
“And since that time there’s been 399 completed walks that have been upgraded using that program. The completed projects have totaled $214,397 that have been reimbursed back to the property owners through the program. The grant, like we already said, reimburses the amount for the concrete. So how do we get that amount? Well every spring we average the two concrete companies and come up with a number that we use for the construction season.”
White says residents can fill out an application that’s available on the city’s website…
“After you fill out your application, Public Works will make contact with the resident or the property owner, and go and inspect what they’re requesting. Does it meet our criteria for needing replacement and or repair. The amount then is agreed upon, the area, and calculated the amount of reimbursement that will be before the project. Then the resident, or property owner, can have the project completed, submit the invoices and we’ll issue the reimbursement.”
White says another option is available to property owners that have larger projects…
“The property owner can ask Public Works to take the quotes, receive the quotes, pick the contractor, the lowest quote, agree upon with them if they’re comfortable with that and that number, and then we will complete the project and then it gets assessed back on their property. So that really helps some of the larger projects and kind of gets some of them over the hump that may not normally want to lay out that much cash initially, so.”
White encourages Spencer residents wanting more information about the program to contact his office or City Hall.
