The Barrett Law - Cost Sharing Program for concrete repair is a great option for homeowners seeking to partner with the City in having improvements made in their neighborhood. This is hosted through the Public Works - Right of Way Department. If your sidewalk, drive approach, yard-walk, or curbing are in poor condition, this is provides an option to have it replaced. Under this program, the City and the petitioning homeowner (or homeowners) will each pay 50 percent of the cost of the concrete repairs. This program takes place annually. Petitions can be accepted year-round, though construction takes place in the summer months. The City will hire its own contractor to take care of concrete removal and replacement, and restoration.

Financing Information

The City offers a low-interest loan to assist property owners in financing their portion of the repair. Payments can be made in full one time or homeowner(s) can take advantage of our low-interest loans (3%). Payments can be made over the course of 10 years on an annual or monthly basis.

Assessments will be performed after construction is complete. The assessment will show as a lien against the property until the assessment is paid in full. Liens stay with the property. The assessment is to be paid in full at closing if the property transfers ownership.

The bill will be sent by mail after construction is complete. It will not exceed the amount stated on the Construction Agreement that was signed before construction began.

FURTHER CORRESPONDANCE WILL BE MAILED WITH DETAILS ON THE NEXT STEPS THAT WILL OCCUR WHETHER YOUR PROPERTY HAS MADE IN ONTO THE LIST FOR 2024 CONSTRUCTION OR NOT.

Petitions may still be submitted, but please know that there will not be any potential for construction until 2025 unless more funds become available.

Filling out a petition may be done via paper copy or online. Please visit our website to fill one out. It can be found on the sidebar on desktop or at the bottom of the page on a mobile device.

Important Information before filling out a petition

• All homeowner(s) of the property must sign the petition for an individual petition. For a block petition, 51% of affected homeowner(s) need to sign it.
• You may only fill out a petition for the property or properties that you own. If you have a complaint or concern about the sidewalk or curbing of another person's property or a neighborhood, please call 260-427-8311 to file a complaint.
• This program applies for replacing concrete that is in the right of way, not concrete on private property. Sidewalks, yard-walks, residential drive approaches, and curbing are eligible for replacement. See the diagram below for a visual reference.
• Trees that are planted in the park strip that are disturbing the concrete will be removed at no cost to the homeowner as part of this program. The trees are removed for the following reasons:
  • The roots may continue to lift or crack the newly poured concrete, creating trip hazards
  • Large roots may be cut during construction, which can make the tree unstable
  • The Parks Department does have a “Citizen Match Tree Planting Program”, should you wish to have a new tree planted after construction.
• This Barrett Law Cost Share program only applies to residential properties. For businesses wishing to replace concrete in the right of way, please contact the Right of Way office for more information about our Miscellaneous Package 50/50 Cost Sharing.
• Filling out a petition does not bind the homeowner to participating in the program nor does it guarantee that they are on the construction list. After we receive your petition, we go and estimate the amount to replace. Then a Construction Agreement will be mailed to you, outlining the amount of work to be done and the 50% cost estimate. Only by signing a Construction Agreement and returning it to the City before funds are allocated, will the property be slated for construction that year.