Bill Savage does not see the need for the Village of Oxford to build a sidewalk to nowhere in front of his and his neighbors homes.
Savage has protested the proposed sidewalk along the east side of Pontiac Street, from the southern village limits, to Oxford Elementary School.
There is no sidewalk there now and Savage said seven of the nine residents who would be affected do not want the sidewalk.
The money used to build the sidewalk would come from the Village’s Community Development Block Grant funds and is estimated to cost about $9,000.
Village Manager Joe Young said council members have voted to fund the project because they believe it will better serve children who walk along the area and need to cross Pontiac Street to get to the school.
Young said eventually even a crossing area and crossing guard could be located in front of the school.
Savage disputed the argument that it would make the area safer.
‘If safety were the issue, then the sidewalks should be put in everywhere along there,? he said. ‘The library and the school are on the other side of the street.?
The sidewalk will not connect with any existing sidewalks but will just start at the village limit and end, nine houses to the north, he said.
Savage said he and six of his neighbors are concerned the sidewalks will cause some trees to have to be removed and other construction problems. Once the sidewalks are in, it will be the residents? responsibilities to shovel snow and maintain them.
‘I am sure it will be viewed as an improvement to your homes and our taxes will go up,? Savage said. ‘There are liability issues also. When we moved to this home in 1992, one of the things we liked about it was that there were no sidewalks.?
Savage said he sent e-mails to all council members telling them that most of the residents opposed the sidewalk but said none of them responded to him. He also attended a council meeting and told them of the opposition.
‘They did not listen,? he said.
Young said the council determined the sidewalk would make the area safer. He said they were moving ahead with plans to construct it and expected to begin seeking bids in a few weeks.