Residents Pay for Damaged Sidewalks No Matter What

It might have been a village tree that ripped up your sidewalk during Super Storm Sandy. That doesn't mean the village will be paying for the repairs, Village Manager Ken Gabbert said last Wednesday.

Because village ordinance stipulates that homeowners are responsible for maintenance on all sidewalks, the village will only be replacing curbs and roads, Gabbert said.

Replacing and re-setting a broken sidewalk slab could cost several hundred dollars to residents.

Thus far, Sandy's cost to the village has tallied about $1.3 million. The manager hopes about 75 percent of the cost is covered by federal grants.

Dual emergency appropriations were issued in November and December.

But with expected funds still not yet returned from Hurricane Irene and "Snowtober," it may be a while before the checks arrive. The village will likely have to cough up about $250,000 or more when the calendar turns.