Owner of Rath home may be forced to pay for sidewalk repairs

UPDATED: Following a public hearing Monday night, in which no one from the public commented, the Ludington City Council voted unanimously to lien the property owner’s taxes to pay 75% of the cost of sidewalk repairs.

LUDINGTON — The Ludington City Council will hold a public hearing tonight to determine if the owner of a house on North Rath Avenue will be forced to pay 75% of sidewalk repairs in front of that home. According to a memo to the council from City Manager John Shay, attempts have been made to contact the home owner and request they participate in the city’s 50-50 sidewalk repair program because of the unsafe conditions of the sidewalk. But, the owner has not responded to the city’s correspondence.

The 50-50 program is a split in repairs between the property owner and the city.

Because the property owner of 501 N. Rath has not responded to the requests, the city will now establish a special assessment district for that property and will charge 75% of the repair costs against the owner’s property taxes. The estimated costs of repairs is $2,090.

I