High Street Neighbors: Be Advised

Water Valves = Tripping Hazard = Homeowner Responsibility/Liability

Lyla Dozier (WHO Board Member) walked the entire length of High Street with two city engineers and Bill Stwoe, Director of Public Works this past week (7/25). The primary reason for the walk was the issue of protruding water shut off valves and caps that have been set into the concrete sidewalks. When they were set into the concrete late last fall they were set at or slightly below sidewalk grade level, but due to "frost heave" some of the valves and caps are now protruding above the sidewalk in excess of half and inch.  City code states that there cannot be a deflection in excess of three quarters of an inch.

In general, it is the homeowners responsibility to:

• Make sure that the sidewalk in front of their home is a safe and viable surface.
• Have these water shut off valves set at the proper level.

During the walk, when possible, one of the city engineers pounded down the protruding valves. In the cases where the value could not be pounded down, the city will come out and cut the concrete to alow the valve to be set at or slightly below the sidewalk. They will only do this once.

Most of the water shut off connections are in the sodded parking area between the steet and the sidewalk. When the homeowner didn't have a sound, viable water pipe to connect to (e.g. old pipe that is corroded), the valves needed to be set in into the sidewalk.  This was so the installer could cut back the old pipe and make a more solid, sound connection.  Please note: the water service from the "stopbox" or water shut off valve to the house is the homeowner's responsibility.

Tree Selection
The homeowners on High Street will see that additional work will be done as far as these sidewalk issues. Tree replanting is also an issue, the city will be recommending what types of trees will be replanted and where they should be replanted. The homeowners on High Street need to be part of this process. When the city meets with the Woodland Heights Organization to decide what trees and where they will go, homeowners should come to that meeting to express their wants and desires for the replanting.