Information For
Frequently Asked Questions
In order to have a sidewalk project fully funded, the project must meet one or more of the criteria specified in the policy. If the criteria are met, city staff will put the project on a prioritized list and will complete the project in order of priority and available funding. 100% funded projects are typically larger projects that take longer to plan, administer, and complete, therefore if you are wanting sidewalk replacement or installation quickly, the 75%/25% cost-sharing program may be a better option. Please click this link: to email your request to the Engineering Division or call us at (606) 385-3332.
In order to request a 75% city cost-sharing project, otherwise known as a 75/25 project, please click this link: to email your request to the Engineering Division or call us at (606) 385-3332. The Engineering Division will determine if your project meets the criteria to be approved for 75% city participation. If approved, a contract and project cost will be prepared for your review and approval. Upon deposit of your portion of the project cost, the city will schedule your project for construction.
Most cities and communities in the nation delegate sidewalk repair and maintenance responsibilities to the adjacent owner. Few cities or communities have cost-sharing programs. The majority of the cities and communities with a cost-sharing program share costs with the owner on a 50%/50% basis. Very few cities or communities contribute 75% or greater of the cost of sidewalks (unless the city had a separate sidewalk tax), therefore relative to the industry standard, the City of Ashland has a very generous, citizen-friendly, sidewalk policy.
All work within the street right-of-way requires a permit from the Public Works Department. Please click this link: to email your request to the Engineering Division or call us at (606) 385-3332. The Engineering Division will determine if your project meets the criteria to be approved for 75% city participation. If the project does not meet the criteria to be funded as a 75/25 project, the City may still administer and contract the work to be performed 100% at the owner’s cost.
Even if your project is not eligible for city cost participation, you may still benefit from the city’s services provided. The City of Ashland contracts for hundreds of thousands of dollars of concrete work per year. The successful concrete contractor is evaluated by our staff for experience and quality of work and since the work is awarded by a bid for a very large bulk contract for an entire year, the unit costs are typically much lower than what individual property owners would receive. In addition, you will receive free project management and inspection by the city engineering staff. There’s no question that the work will be done per city specifications because we will be directing the work. If the work is not done to our standards, we will hold the contractor accountable until the work is completed to the city’s satisfaction. The owner will not need to argue or negotiate with the contractor for change orders and extra costs…we take care of that for you.
The City cannot have worked performed on private property, however, property owners are able to contact our current concrete contractor to enter into a separate agreement between the owner and contractor to complete the work on private property at the same time the work is being performed within the street right-of-way. Owners frequently get a better deal this way since the contractor is already on-site pouring other concrete. This agreement is entirely between the owner and contractor and the city assumes no liability for the work performed on private property.