Aldermen discuss sidewalk options

The city of Perryville adopted its street policy in 2000, and the plan has been updated several times.
City administrator Brent Buerck would like to see a modified version of a plan, specifically one that addresses sidewalks.
Tuesday evening, alderman Dave Schumer, who chairs the city’s sidewalk committee, sought guidance on where sidewalks should get installed, and also wanted to reconsider adding a sidewalk to a portion of North Moulton Street.
“I think we ought to open it back up, and possibly consider it, at least find out what people think,” Schumer said. “It makes total sense to me to at least build sidewalks from Grand to Drury, so people can go to the soccer park on the sidewalk.”
Schumer is concerned that the city will be notified it has numerous places that will need sidewalks replaced.
“I’m afraid when we get this ADA transition plan from SEMO Regional Planning, I think they’re going to want a lot of sidewalks where we don’t have them already, and as long as we put in a few here and there we’re kind of meeting that plan where people want them, that’s what the residential sidewalk program does,” Schumer said.
That updated sidewalk plan should be available in June.
Alderman Curt Buerck said he supported the installation of sidewalks if the majority of those on a city street wanted them put in. Though he wants the support to be more than half of the homeowners.
“It better be better than 50-50, I’m going to say that,” Buerck said.
Asked by Schumer what the city should do if there are only a couple of homes on a block, Curt Buerck wasn’t sure.
“I don’t know what you’d do,” Curt Buerck said.
“How do you prioritize what street is next when you look at sidewalks?” asked alderman Clint Rice. “How did we arrive at Moulton?”
The city’s policy states that when a street is repaired, the sidewalk in that location should get updated as well.
“We didn’t set out to do the sidewalks (on Moulton Street),” Brent Buerck said. “We’re doing the street because it was in bad shape.”
Brent Buerck said the city recently repaired sidewalk near St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church because it was uneven and a woman fell recently. In addition, gaps in the sidewalk were closed on Grand and Bruce streets.
“We had the jack o’lantern look and we wanted to close those gaps,” Buerck said.
Only one individual returned a signed letter regarding sidewalks.
The city will pay homeowners up to $25 a linear foot to construct a sidewalk, as part of an improvement program.
Alderman Tom Guth prefers to wait until the ADA sidewalk plan is prepared from SEMO Regional Planning.

“We need to see how many sidewalks we’ve got in town that aren’t compliant before we start spending money on the new (ones),” Guth said.
Brent Buerck knows there will be a list of sidewalks that aren’t in compliance with ADA standards, but understands the process to update them won’t be immediate.
“It’ll be huge,” he said. “That doesn’t mean they have to be (replaced) tomorrow,” Buerck said.
The city plans to spend $50,000 to $75,000 per year as part of its capital improvement plan.
“That’s sufficient, we have a plan,” Buerck said.
“We need to send a letter to all these people again saying we’re not going to do it,” Schumer said.
According to Buerck, Jonathan Paulus was the only resident that responded they didn’t want a sidewalk.
“We’ve been a little back and forth with this, and that’s an understatement,” alderman Doug Martin said. “He wants us to have a clear direction, one way or another.”
Schumer is seeking guidance for the decisions that need made with the sidewalk committee. He serves as chairman, while alderman Martin and Dennis House are also a part of the committee.
“If you’re just looking for connectivity and walkability in town, (sidewalks on) two sides is ideal, but some of these streets that are older weren’t designed with that in mind,” Rice said.
“My favorite thing about one side, is having to pick who gets the side,” Brent Buerck said.
“If somebody wants a sidewalk, I say let them have it,” Guth noted.
While a letter had been distributed to those living on North Moulton in 2022, Guth wasn’t sure how many residents read the letter or were aware of the possible sidewalk improvements.
“I kind of like the door-to-door thing,” Guth said.
Earlier this year, the aldermen voted against a measure to install sidewalk on a portion of North Moulton Street east of St. Joseph to Drury Lane.
Tuesday, the aldermen approved a motion to open the sidewalk discussion again on North Moulton. A recommendation will be made by the sidewalk committee.
“We’re going to use the policy as it’s written now to kind of dictate where we pick and choose (what to do),” Schumer said. “As chairman, I’m going to try to at least get a sidewalk on one side, it may not be the same side all the way up the street.”
“The right of ways in town vary from street to street because there are older parts of town,” engineer Tim Baer said.
The next board of aldermen meeting will take place Tuesday, May 17, at 6:30 p.m.