By Jim Bloch
Are the sidewalks in front of your home crumbling? Have heaving tree roots mis-aligned sidewalk slabs on your favorite walking route? Does the sidewalk on your street suddenly end mid-block?
More than a third of the requests for DPW service by residents in St. Clair concern sidewalk issues.
In part to deal with this demand, the city council has approved a sidewalk maintenance program pitched by City Superintendent Steve Duchane. The council approved his proposal 7-0 at its regular meeting May 18.
The goal is to improve pedestrian safety and to interconnect all parts of the city. Areas with high pedestrian traffic, such as schools, shopping areas and parks, will be prioritized.
The city is planning to repair or replace 3,000 linear feet of sidewalk over the next two years. Overall, the city has about 11 miles of sidewalk in need of attention.
Duchane recommended establishing a dedicated fund to pay for the program. In 2026, he estimated that the city would spend $15,000 for engineering, inspection and contingencies and $28,000 for sidewalk construction. He proposed funding the first year of the program with an unexpected windfall of $45,000 from a delinquent commercial tax exemption at 301 Sixth Street – the old middle/high school — that was recouped from the title company when the property was sold.
Duchane hopes that sales of unwanted city property will pour at least $10,000 into the sidewalk program for 2027, augmented by general property tax revenue if necessary.
“The DPW will coordinate closely with other city departments to align sidewalk work with paving, water line replacements and other capital improvement projects,” Duchane said in his memo to Mayor Bill Cedar and the council.
Residents may continue to report hazardous sidewalks to the city, but the squeaky wheel will not necessarily be guaranteed grease.
“The municipal sidewalk program work will not be performed on an individual request basis,” Duchane said. “Project locations will be prioritized based on documented needs, safety considerations and overall program objectives.”
The city will solicit bids from outside contractors for the work each year. Once all the sidewalks in the city are rated as fair or better, Duchane foresees the DPW stepping in to maintain the system.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com..
