Frustrated homeowners in Nebraska are facing bills as high as $1,700 for sidewalk repairs that, frankly, they didn’t cause, and which lie right in front of their homes.
People in Omaha have been told they need to fix the sidewalk behind their property and the ones leading to what some are calling the “Sidewalk to Nowhere,” according to a report from WOWT TV.
In Omaha, there’s a city ordinance requiring property owners to repair unsafe sidewalks. Interestingly, homeowners aren’t held responsible for other maintenance tasks like lawn mowing or snow removal—though they can choose to tackle those jobs themselves, or hire someone to do it.
One resident, Stephanie Boli, raised a valid point: “If we’re not responsible for mowing or snow removal, then why do we have to take care of the sidewalks? That’s beyond what the homeowners association covers.” Her frustration is palpable.
Residents are understandably upset, especially after receiving quotes that seem excessively high.
For example, Grant Kitchen was billed $1,687.56 to replace an unsafe panel, even though some of the panels at the edge were barely even used and were close to some shrubs. He went ahead and paid it, expressing his disbelief: “First, we fix something to ensure it’s safe, but then we need to make sure those who want to use it aren’t going to be able to.” Sounds pretty frustrating, right?
Jim Frick, who received an $800 bill, echoed those sentiments: “This is definitely unfair.”
Meanwhile, Diane Briggs, a spokesperson for the Hillsborough Landowners Association, mentioned that “nothing has been decided” regarding the costs, adding that HOA officials are examining the issue closely.
Disputes over sidewalks have been an ongoing problem between city officials and Omaha residents. Just last year, for instance, Dean Wilson was hit with a $700 charge for sidewalk damage near his home. He argued that it wasn’t his responsibility to fix it at all.
“It doesn’t make sense that I’m responsible for this sidewalk when it’s outside the white fence marking the boundary of my district,” he said, and his homeowners association eventually decided to cover the costs for him.
