SIDEWALKS

Sidewalks should be maintained at the expense of Canton Township.

Lawsuit

The issue of sidewalk maintenance responsibility within public right-of-ways was clarified by a landmark decision of the Michigan Supreme Court in 1997.
The Court's determination definitively assigned responsibility for sidewalk maintenance to townships.

The Law - Passing the buck

MCL 41.288a gives townships permission to bill the individual home owner BUT paragraph 4 says:

"A township board may construct, repair, and maintain walkways or sidewalks along main or arterial roads where it considers it necessary to protect the safety of the public. The costs of the sidewalks may be paid by the township at large. When determined necessary by the township board, the board shall submit to the electors the question of raising the necessary funds by a levy not to exceed 1 mill at a general, primary, or special election."

Leanders' Proposal

Township administrations currently hold millions of dollars generated from permit and inspection fees. This an opportunity to significantly offset the costs of sidewalk maintenance. Rather than accumulating these funds I will work to convince the board consider using a portion of this money to reduce the costs per slab. I would also consider a cap on the amount that any home owner can be expensed per round.

Vote For Leander Richmond and lets bring some common sense back to Canton Township.