Because of liability concerns, the village had been removing deteriorating sidewalk ramps that do not lead to a matching ramp across the street, village Manager Bill Dixon said.
"A visually impaired person may use one ramp, but then what?" said Dixon about when the person gets to the other side of the street and cant find another sidewalk ramp.
In the past three years, the village has fixed about 200 sidewalk ramps to the tune of $450,000. Of those 200 ramps, the village took down about
five ramps that did not have matching ramps, Dixon said.
But the board changed that policy so all handicapped ramps, even the single ones, will be repaired.
"We had a lengthy discussion on this topic last Monday," village President Arlene Mulder said. "I think we came to a resolution that is acceptable to everyone."
The sidewalk topic came up two months ago when Michael Sidor, who was running for Arlington Heights trustee, said Mulder and the entire village board received a letter more than a year ago from a physically disabled resident concerned because some curbs werent getting fixed with the wheelchair-friendly slope.
He said the resident was frustrated and "just wanted to talk to a nonincumbent," Sidor said at a March 14 debate. Later, Sidor met with the resident.
Sidor who didnt win a spot on the board in April said the board ignored the letter.
Trustees Joe Farwell and Bert Rosenberg denied Sidors claim. Both said they didnt remember the letter that Sidor said dated back to 2007.
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