Committee advances Nelson Street sidewalk easements; private owners to construct sidewalks

A committee of the Tiffin City Council voted 4-0 Aug. 11 to request legislation authorizing easements for public sidewalk construction on Nelson Street, part of an infill development. The committee report was read to the full council on Sept. 2 and indicated the law director was directed to prepare the necessary legislation.

Cheyenne Thacker, reporting for the Street, Sidewalks and Sewers Committee, said the meeting included city staff: City Administrator Nick Dutra, City Engineer Matt Watson and Law Director Zachary Fowler. Matt Watson provided information about the mayor's request for legislation authorizing sidewalk easements tied to an infill development on Nelson Street. The city would be granted an easement to connect to existing sidewalks, but construction would be completed by private property owners.

The committee motion to have the law director prepare legislation passed 4-0. The committee adjourned shortly after that procedural action. The full council was informed of the committee's action during the Sept. 2 meeting; no council-level debate or vote on the final ordinance occurred at that meeting.

Next steps identified by the committee are for the Law Director to draft the ordinance authorizing the easements and for the matter to be assigned to the Long Community Planning Committee for further consideration and potential council action. The transcript does not include the draft ordinance language or any timeline for when the council would consider the prepared legislation.