Rd. 19 Sidewalk Petition Fails; Seek Grant Funds

A petition to build sidewalks along the west side of Co. Rd. 19, from a point near the St. Rt. 2 intersection to the Norfolk Southern tracks on Pettisville's north side failed last week.

In a hearing before the Fulton County Commissioners Thursday, Jan. 17, Paul Barnaby, Fulton County commissioner, said only 13 of 39 abutting property owners signed the petition, requesting the construction.

Therefore, the petition failed, and there will be no further consideration.

Steve Brown, Fulton County planning director, said if the petition had been signed by a majority of landowners along the roadway, the sidewalk would have been constructed, and the property owners would have paid an assessment for their share of the cost.

However, efforts to build the sidewalk may not be over.

Study Grant

Brown said German and Clinton Townships have received a $6,000 grant, to conduct a sidewalk study in the Pettisville area. County Rd. 19 is the dividing line between the two townships.

The money comes from a Safe Routes to School grant, funded by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Brown said, in early February county officials will meet with representatives of the Ohio Department of Transportation to start the study process. A consulting firm selected by ODOT, along with representatives of the Pettisville Local School District and Fulton County Regional Planning will conduct the study.

He anticipates the study will be completed within six months.

After the study is completed, the Co. Rd. 19 sidewalk, and possibly other proposed sidewalks in Pettisville, would be able to compete with other sidewalk projects state wide for grant funding.

Objections

Several property owners from the area attended the Jan. 10 meeting, and voiced objections to the sidewalk project.

Brown said their objections were based on four points:

•The property owners didn't want to maintain the sidewalk, i.e., remove snow and ice.

•The property owners didn't believe the sidewalk was correctly located, i.e., it was too close to their houses.

•The property owners didn't believe anyone would use the sidewalks, as all Pettisville school students north of the railroad tracks are bused to school.

•The property owners didn't want to pay additional taxes for the sidewalk.