Engineering Department
Sidewalk / Curb Repair Program 

 
There's nothing worse than setting out for a nice long walk or run through your neighborhood and stumbling on a cracked, deteriorated, or misaligned sidewalk. Not only does this sidewalk threaten your safety, but it also decreases the neighborhood's beauty. To combat this problem, the City of Tipp City conducts an annual sidewalk and curb repair program.

Each year a section of the City is targeted for the program with the goal of covering a portion of the City that is or is scheduled for asphalt resurfacing, or has been resurfaced within the last 2 years.

Tipp City has adopted the practice, which is common in most communities across the country, of making property owners responsible for the sidewalk and curbs abutting their properties. In Ohio, state law provides for this practice on the premise that property owners get the most benefit from the walk because it is available for their use and it enhances a property's value. So when it comes to making repairs, property owners are responsible.

The City Engineering Department inspectors review the sidewalk and curb and mark the sections that must be replaced or repaired. The criteria for replacement or repair was established by City Council and has been used for several years. After the marking is completed, an explanation of the markings, a copy of the required work, an estimated cost, and the options for doing the work are sent to the affected residents.

There are two options for repairing the sidewalks and curbs.

First, the citizen could hire a contractor, who must obtain a permit within thirty (30) days of official notification, to do sidewalk, drive approach, and/or curbs. The contractor has thirty (30) days from the time the permit is issued to complete the work. The contractor must post a performance bond which will remain on file with the City for a period of 12 months. The contractor must also provide proof of insurance, listing the City as an additional insured. This work must also have a pre-pour and a final inspection.

The second option for replacement or repair is to have the contractor that the City hires do the work. The City pays the contractor for the actual cost of the work. The citizen may either pay the City for the work or have the cost assessed to their property taxes.

Sidewalk and curb repair is a vital part of neighborhood pride and the residents should remember that the program not only ties into neighborhood pride, but community pride as well. If everyone does their part, improvements will be a lot easier. Any property owner that has questions about the program should contact the Engineering Department at (937) 667-6305, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The marking and issuing of replacement orders on curb, sidewalks, and drive approaches is a controversial subject. The purpose of these standards is to make determinations as precise as possible while holding arbitrary judgments to a minimum. However, it must be realized that some decisions will require an arbitrary, impersonal approach.

When there is a disagreement between the Inspector and the property owner regarding replacement orders, the City Engineer will re-examine the curb, sidewalk, or drive approach in question and make the final determination.

Deficiencies Requiring Sidewalk or Drive Approach Replacement:

1. Section or sections sagged or raised more than one inch (1") from original configuration, if, at the discretion of the inspector, there is a drainage or safety problem.
2. Misalignment at joints or part of sections.
3. Badly spalled, when aggregate can be scratched from the surface indicating constant deterioration.
4. Missing sections or horizontal gaps between sections.

• * AREAS MARKED WITH BLACK PAINT ARE THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY.
• * AREAS MARKED WITH WHITE PAINT ARE THE PROPERTY OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY.
• Areas between ---> <--- arrows must be removed and replaced by a contractor BONDED with the City.
• Areas marked with an "X" must be removed and replaced.

NOTE: Service walks are required to be removed unless approved by the City.

Call the Engineering Department at (937) 667-6305 to check on the bonding status of the contractor that you may hire to do your work. The City does keep an updated list.