Use federal funding – Our view: Following ADA is the least the city should do

Glencoe is planning to improve East 10th Street between North Hennepin Avenue and Morningside Drive next summer.
The project is a viable one, a good idea to keep an important roadway in good shape long-term before more significant and expensive work is needed.
The city is taking advantage of a significant amount of federal funding to pay for about two-thirds of the $1.56 million project. The remainder of the project funding is state and local dollars. We applaud the city for taking advantage of federal money.
To take advantage of approximately $1 million in federal funding, the city needs to implement a program where it will, as available funding permits, make sure its sidewalks and pedestrian ramps meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To access funding, the city is expected, as local funding permits, to keep its sidewalks, pedestrian ramps and municipally owned parking facilities in a condition in line with the ADA.
We hope the city council won’t spend too much time patting itself on the back for following the ADA, a federal law. There are stretches of sidewalks and curbs serving city sidewalks Glencoe should not spend any time bragging about. Keeping sidewalks suitable for pedestrians, particularly those who can’t drive themselves where they need to be, is the least the city can do. If the sidewalks, pedestrian ramps and municipal parking lots are in disrepair, that falls squarely on the shoulders of city councilors. It is their job to provide the direction to city staff that municipal facilities should be kept in suitable condition for pedestrians.
The city owns those facilities. Sidewalks and pedestrian ramps are within street rights-of-way. It is incumbent on the city to maintain them. We expect the city will want to assess a portion of the cost of their upkeep to property owners. The city’s assessment program is a discussion for another time.
Cities take pride in pedestrian-friendly facilities. We applaud the city for recognizing there are portions of its inventory of sidewalks and pedestrian ramps woefully in need of improvements. Pedestrians who don’t feel safe walking on sidewalks too often will turn to walking in the street. Blending pedestrians and motor vehicles in the same proximity is not a formula for safety.
Some members of the city council like to take credit for the practice of setting money aside annually for street maintenance. It’s a wise practice to maintain the investment in streets. We’d suggest money should also be set aside annually for upkeep of sidewalks and pedestrian ramps in Glencoe.
-jm

Please support local businesses
Gov. Walz issued new restrictions on local businesses last week.
Like ‘em or not, the restrictions are in place. They will impact local restaurants and other businesses. Hopefully, the restrictions will be over and done in a month.
In the meantime, we’d encourage people to do all they can to support local businesses impacted by the latest round of restrictions. If you can, please order a take-out meal, use the drive-thru lane, place an order online for curbside pickup. Do whatever you can to help these local businesses.
Inside these businesses are people who rely on paychecks. Hopefully, we’ll do all we can to help keep things moving as best we can.
They need your support.
-jm