[JHeath]

http://www.heraldargus.com/main.asp?Sectio...rticleID=122409

8/26/2008 9:42:00 AM
Maintenance starts on Village Green trouble spot
By Laurie Wink

For The Herald-Argus

MICHIGAN CITY - "It was an accident waiting to happen," Marlene Nieding said. "Unfortunately, I had to be the happen."

Marlene and Dan Nieding have lived in the Village Green neighborhood for 30 years. During that time, sidewalks have gone from bad to worse, she said. They've been heaved up by tree roots, creating uneven, potentially dangerous surfaces.

Marlene had a face-to-face encounter with an uneven sidewalk on July 5, when she tripped and fell head first.

Marlene said she is still dealing with the aftermath of the accident, which has resulted in fluid on her kneecap, torn ligaments in her hand and "really bad headaches."

The Village Green Neighborhood Association had been telling the city about the problem walkways for years, only to be told by Boyd Phelps, city engineer, that there was no money to fix them.

On Aug. 11, Mayor Chuck Oberlie contacted George Neagu, association president, outlining a plan to tackle the problems with trees and walkways.

Neagu said work started before he could notify residents, and before the association could provide any input.

"As delighted as I am that they are concerned about removing hazards, we weren't apprised before all this occurred," Neagu said.

The tree and sidewalks project will cost about $140,000 and should take six to eight weeks to complete, according to City Forester Frank Seilheimer.

Seilheimer and a work crew from the Indiana State Prison began this week trimming back trees throughout the neighborhood. Low branches and those blocking streetlights were cut, leaving raw ends that will heal over in time, he said.

Seilheimer marked some 23 trees with a large white X, indicating they will be removed. His decision to take out certain trees was based on their health or whether they encroached on driveways or roadways.

Sidewalk sections raised by more than a quarter-inch will be leveled through a process called "mud-jacking."

The process involves drilling two holes into a sidewalk slab, raising it up, and pumping concrete underneath. In areas where tree roots are a serious problem, concrete will be replaced with rubber sidewalks, made from recycled tires. Using recycled material is an environmentally sound strategy but can be costly.

"It's expensive, but cheaper than cutting a tree and putting in concrete," Seilheimer said.

In the future, if tree roots have raised the rubber sidewalk, that section can be picked up and placed again, he said. These sidewalks are ADA approved, in keeping with federal guidelines, and 28 handicapped ramps will be installed at corners during the project.

As a forester, Seilheimer identified the silver maples planted on tree lawns as a big part of the problem.

"Silver maple have shallow roots and grow fast," he said. "The pin oaks planted at the same time are slower growing with deep root systems."

Seilheimer has worked full-time for the city since last June, handling daily complaints, planting trees and getting involved with other projects, such as removing tree debris from Trail Creek.

Complaints usually relate to tree trimming, Seilheimer said.

"Most want trees trimmed back from their house, or from walkways where they have to duck under trees," he said.

Village Green resident Noel Schlegelmilch seemed to sum up the feelings of his neighbors when he told Seilheimer, "I'm glad you came out and did this because it needed to be done."

[Southsider2k12]

If this is anything like when they cut down trees to re-do north Ohio Street, there are going to be a bunch of people mad after their trees get cut down. Besides it must be nice to have sidewalks. Our stretch doesn't have them along Ohio.

[Roger Kaputnik]

Don't get me started about sidewalks, walkways, and bike paths!