Tuesday, June 19, 2007 1:07 AM CDT
Column: 'That electrical guy is really cute' tops list of sidewalk comments
By HARRY REYNOLDS, Editorial Page Editor
hreynolds@jg-tc.com
If you want to know how the story on Mattoon’s sidewalks triggered a debate over the use of the city’s fire trucks, go to JG/T-C online and check out Herb Meeker’s story (Tuesday, June 5, “Mattoon plans sidewalk repairs").
As for this column, it will stick to the comments relating to the city’s proposal to upgrade sidewalks throughout the community.
To put it briefly, the city will finance repairing sidewalk sections over the next five years for walking routes stretching 20 miles. The city is committing $200,000 to the project.
Following are snippets of some of the more civilized comments:
-- too bad... wrote:
“...only “certain” neighborhoods get any attention in Charleston.”
-- Todd wrote:
“I like the idea of new sidewalks around town. About a month ago, Mr. Wortman told the Journal that he had received a letter for an eight year old to fix sidewalks. I hope those sidewalks are fixed as well.”
-- Wonderful wrote:
“ What good are new sidewalks when you can’t use them? Cars, trucks, motorcycles, dumpsters, etc. are allowed to block the sidewalks we have now making them impossible to use.”
-- Doug O wrote:
“Dave brings the excellence he shared overseas in the Peace Corps to Mattoon. We’re blessed to have him. I’m excited that several sidewalks are getting fixed... selfishly of course since I live on one of the areas slated to be fixed and have been puzzling over my crumbling walkways for a while. But aside from that, he has LIMITED funds to do LIMITLESS work.”
-- Mike P wrote:
“Perhaps if the sidewalk repairs, are done by outside contractors, they will be done to last longer. I hope there are some terms of longevity tied to the work. Shifting slabs of cement, denote an underlying issue, that simply removing the old, and pouring a new one, doesn’t fix.
-- how true wrote:
“mattoon is exactly what the kids say it is...mattoon cartoon land “
-- Wow. wrote:
“Man. There are SO many complainers around here. If you people want to sit here and gripe so much then run for office yourself and “better” the city of Mattoon. Some of the most disgraceful buildings across the city have been torn down, as well as some pretty trashy houses.
-- Chris 2.0 wrote:
“You could put band-aids on the sidewalk system we have now, or you could rebuild the system from the ground up. Rebuilding will allow anyone to walk anywhere in town. Band aids will allow some to walk around the block. “
-- It’s Funny wrote:
“It’s funny that this article is discussing actually fixing the sidewalks, and those that want it done still are not happy! I understand that you’re frustrated that it has not been done sooner, but at least they’re trying now. See that as a positive move forward! If this community is just a bunch of complainers, we will all be miserable, and we will never attract any new businesses, which we really need!!!”
-- new business wrote:
“i doubt that any new business interested in mattoon, are going to go door to door to see if people are complainers or miserable...a look off the main roads will tell them all they need to know.”
-- To Mattooner at Heart wrote:
“I have offered to do the work on fixing my sidewalk setting the forms and pouring the concrete but the city of mattoon wants to charge me $500.00 dollars to fix their sidewalk. I think that if i’m going to be doing the labor and volunteering my time to do what we pay taxes for then why should I have to pay the city.”
-- Beauty wrote:
“I don't think anyone that works for the city of Mattoon has given any thought to people in this city that have disabilities that prevent them from driving and need these sidewalks to get where they need to go.”
-- Chris 2.0 wrote:
“The $500 is a refundable deposit, returned to you after the job is complete. It is to insure you don’t rip the old sidewalk out and leave a hole across your yard. You do NOT pay the city to fix their property. It is materials reimbursement policy so if you have volunteer labor, your final cost is practically nothing.”
-- Judy wrote:
“what is it you would have them magically do?? Wave their wands and make money appear? Taxes higher wow that will work. The sidewalks didn't just fall apart over night so how is it that people think that they ALL can be repaired overnight. Why does every one put blame on other people when everyone in this City can take it upon themselves to make there home/property look nice!!”
-- Bobbie wrote:
“I have been trying very nicely to get my sidewalk fixed and get this nasty tree taken out since I moved to this town 3 years ago....I even asked to at least trim the tree and they couldn't even do that I did that myself.”
-- K-Tay wrote:
“I personally think that anytime I have had a problem, the building inspections dept. has been more than helpful. Kyle Gill is right on top of things, and that electrical guy is really cute. We have great confident leadership at city hall, and it is great peace of mind.”
K-Tay’s remark about the “electrical guy” wins my vote as this week’s top comment.
Harry Reynolds is editorial page editor of the Journal Gazette/Times-Courier. Contact Reynolds at hreynolds@jg-tc.com or 238-6861.
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clumpton wrote on Jun 16, 2007 9:41 AM: