City sidewalks, driveway code change approved by council

Sidewalks in Monroe may be covered in several inches of snow right now, but comes spring construction season there will be new regulations for the city walkways. The Monroe City Council unanimously approved the third reading of an ordinance amending the city code for the construction of sidewalks and driveways approaches during its regular monthly meeting Monday.

"(It's adding) rebar in the sidewalks, rebar in the approaches and another thing is if it is new construction they need to pour their approach," public works director Jeff Timmons said during the first reading in
December. "I don't care if they rock it to the garage, but out there by the street. Otherwise, when we plow snow we take the rock out and take it on down the street."

With plenty of snow falling onto the roadways this winter season, the new ordinance will help keep any rock surfacing in driveways by pushing it back with a poured entrance.

The new code reads: The sidewalks shall be of one-course construction. Sidewalk and driveway entrances shall be with reinforced bar. It will be required to have rebar parallel four to six inch inside the outer edge of the sidewalk and the sidewalk will need to be pinned to an adjoining sidewalk.

For driveways, the entrance will be required to be no less than six inches in thickness and reinforced with rebar. Also, all new residential homes will be required to have Portland Concrete driveway entrances. Timmons said the new code will only be for new construction and not for pre-existing sidewalks and driveways.

In other business:

• The council approved making an offer to the top candidate for the open city maintenance position. Should the candidate accept, the person could start before the official resolution goes before the council in March.

• The council also approved the hiring of a fourth police officer for the city. Police Chief Nick Chambers said he has a candidate in mind that has worked as a reserve officer in Prairie City but would need to go to the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy to complete training.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com