IRC or sidwalks? Hi Red Phone. I find it highly laughable that
we
’re about to spend millions of dollars on an indoor recreation
center when we don’t even have sidewalks going down one of our main
roads in town, Dunne Avenue.
IRC or sidwalks?
Hi Red Phone. I find it highly laughable that we’re about to spend millions of dollars on an indoor recreation center when we don’t even have sidewalks going down one of our main roads in town, Dunne Avenue.
You take your life in your own hands when you walk down a street without sidewalks. This is absolutely ridiculous.
We agree that sidewalk-less streets can be a problem so we called up Jim Ashcraft, the head honcho at the city’s Public Works Department and the man with all the answers. He said it is the responsibility of anyone developing their property to make streetside improvements: curbs, gutters, sidewalks, underground utilities and sewer access. Property owners are allowed to pay into a holding account for underground utilities so the entire block can be done at once at a later time.
If property has not been developed or improved since 1975 when the city began to require sidewalks, the street lies there waiting until it is. But there are exceptions.
“If, on major streets carrying major traffic, if there is a safety hazard because sidewalks are not installed, the city does the work and is repaid by the property owner when the property is finally developed,” Ashcraft said.
Another route is for the city to apply for a grant if the area in question has high pedestrian traffic. This is how the city is building curbs, gutters and sidewalks along the north side of West Edmundson Avenue between Community Park and Monterey Road, along the vacant lot where the indoor recreation center will rise next year.
We try to be perfect
One of the most rewarding – though sometimes painful – parts of listening to Red Phone calls each week is when readers call to tell us we got something wrong. Almost always are they polite and even charming but, even when not, we are grateful to know we’ve missed something so we can make it right.
This week’s problem areas:
Caller one: The historic Mission Bell installed in front of the Old Morgan Hill House at 17860 Monterey Road was not paid for by the Morgan Hill Historic Society but by the Morgan Hill Lions Club.
Red Phone: This one is really embarrassing because we know this stuff. The Lions Club, by the way, is an old and wonderful service organization that lives up to its purpose – service. Thanks, caller, for the heads-up.
Caller two: I hope nobody went downtown Saturday night expecting to see the holiday parade. Your story in the Saturday, Nov. 27, edition said it was on Saturday, meaning that night.
Red Phone: Oh gee, this is really, really embarrassing. We left out the word “next” before Saturday. The holiday parade (sponsored by the Kiwanis), followed by the official Christmas tree lighting at First Street, music and cider, takes place tonight, Saturday, Dec. 4, beginning at 5:30pm, rain or shine – well, it’ll be after dark but you know what we mean. The route follows Monterey Road downtown between Fifth and First streets.
The Magic Ship of Christmas (the friendliest of floats with you-know-who aboard) will anchor on East First Street at 6:45pm with goodies for the kids, elves and the odd adult. Parade goers should plan to end the evening at the Community Center, Monterey at Dunne, to vote on Christmas trees decorated by school children and be entertained.
We do hope our error did not cause too many problems.
The Red Phone sounds off Saturday in The Times.
We invite you to call us 24/7 to ask questions, report a complaint, give us a tip, offer an amusing tale of the short variety or just want people to know about something to do with Morgan Hill and the surrounding territory. We’ll check it out and have the answer in an upcoming column.
