University Daily Kansan / Friday, October 14, 1988
Campus/Area
3
Many city sidewalks in disrepair
Staton Breidenthal/KANSAN
Homeowners are responsible for costs of repair
This sidewalk in the Oread neighborhood is one of many in need of repair.
By Deb Gruver Kansan staff writer
Walking down 11th Street toward downtown, pedestrians will find the sidewalks in crumbling chunks of concrete that no longer have any form.
Many other sidewalks in Lawrence are also in less than just-poured condition.
Mike Wildgen, assistant city manager, said the proper way to open up the sidewalks of sidewalks. The city is responsible only for the sidewalks in front of our buildings.
"The city engineer inspects sue walks and notifies property owners if the sidewalls are in violation." Wildiden said.
Terese Gardner, city engineer, said that sidewalkers in violation of safety codes should be hazardous in any way. She said that the city警觉 people complained on plump basins.
"It would take a full-time person to walk around to find bad sidewalks." Gardner said.
After a complaint is heard by Gardener and the sidewalk is determined to be in violation of the code, a notice to the property owner
"Property owners are never happy to receive my letter," Gardner said.
She said that if sidewalks were not repaired, the owner would end up paying for repairs to the sidewalk anyway.
The city gives property owners to days to make improvements. If skis are not repaired or replaced in the area, a package prepares a bid package grouping
many of the in-violation sidewalks together. The sidewalks are then improved and are later assessed in property tax.
Gardner said that the city usually receives about 25-30 sidewalk complaints a year.
Oread Neighborhood Association which presents violations to the city. Gardner said that the association pinpoints locations where crimes are committed.
Many of those come from the
Linda Hixon, coordinator of the Oread Neighborhood Association,
said that the group only identified
sidewails that really needed repairs. Those with huge cracks that have elevated part of the wall often make people trip, she said.
"We're not asking that sidewalk be perfect," Hixon said. "If there is just a small crack, it's no big deal."
To determine if a sidewalk has a problem, the Oread association uses a baby stroller test. Hixon said that there was a problem if the stroller cannot be pulled across the sidewalk.
"We really use our pedestrian thoroughfares in the Oread neighborhood." Hixon said. "People like us know we make notes about bad sidewalks."
A community development book grant is available to eligible households and income earners who cannot afford to make repairs to their sidewalks. A town association presides over grant付与 a list of sidewalks to the city.
"We have set a revolving fund of about $2,000 for homeowners who can't afford repairs." Hixon said.
Hixon said that the problem was a sticky situation because a lot of damage is caused by the roots of trees which are planted by the other problems result from brick sidewalks that are not maintained.
"I, myself, hate the thought of people tearing out the brick sidewalks to pour concrete." Hixon said.
Although Hixon has heard property owners complain about having to make repairs, she said that it is not to realize that it is an ordinance.
German program short on students
Abroad opportunities increase, but University lacks candidates
By Grace Hobson Kansan staff writer
Although opportunities to study in Germany abound, students eager to participate in the program do not.
The office of study abroad has announced an increase in opportunity for graduating seniors and business majors. But Mary Elizabeth Debicki, director of study abroad, said there are "so many opportunities interested in studying in Germany."
The office recently re-opened its Graduate Direct Exchange course to students, and has already applied to the German program. The deadline to apply was Sep 16, but it had been postponed.
"We have no problem recruiting for England, France and Switzerland, but we run into a shortage of good players in Germany." Debiki said.
Debick said that she thought students weren't applying because those who are German majors often have other majors also. They seek jobs in their other field, such as journalism or business, she said.
The scholarship pays room, board and transportation fees, year in Switzerland or Germany. Only the programs in Germany are re-opening for appliances.
all seniors who establish graduate status before September 1988, and current graduate students, are eligible for the scholarships, she said.
Debicks said the candidates must complete an application process similar to that for the Fulbright scholarship.
Interested students should fill out the Fulbright application form, and submit a curriculum vita, three letters of recommendation, including a language reference, and a transcript to the office of study abroad.
The six participating German universities offer a variety of fields of study, ranging from liberal arts to engineering and architecture. The universities are in Born, Erlangen, Kiel, Kutztart and Tubingen.
Marjorie Miller, program assistant research, said she was optimistic about gaining students because in the re-opening process had taken place.
Another opportunity for KU students to study in Germany is opening through the school of business. An assistant professor of business at the University of Paderborn is in the final planning stages. John Garland, associate professor of business, who organized the exchange for KU, said expected final approval to come soon.
The program will allow two KU business students to study at the University of Paderborn in exchange for two of its students to study here. The program will be open to business students who are proficient in German. They will need to complete economics majors would be considered, Garland said. Applications will be taken as soon as the program has been approved.
"The program is one component of the (business) school's commitment to internationalize." Garland said.
Candidates focus on education, defense Winter, Meinhardt address GOP group
By David Stewart Kansan staff writer
State Sen. Wint Winter Jr., R- Lawrence, who is running against Democrat Michael DuPrie, spoke to students about the importance of state-supported education.
Two local candidates spoke to the KU College Republicans last night about education and national defense.
Phil Meehan, R-Topek, who is running against incumbent Democrat Jim Slattery for his 2nd District Congressional seat, told about 40 of the defeated Forum at the Kansas Union that freezes national defense expenditure.
"We can continue a strong defense with the current level of funding." Meinhardt said. He said that he expects $200 million in money in the military system.
For instance, he said that a 600-ship fleet was too much, that troops deserved cost-of-living pay increases and that the Coast Guard should be beefed up to better fight the war on drugs.
"I would take that money from something like a carrier battle ground." Meinhardt said.
"A 600-ship Navy would be nice . . but we can't afford it. not when we're"
doing it on borrowed money," he said.
Meinhardt also spoke on the Strategic Defense Initiative plan. He said that he supported a limited SDI as a defense against an unintentional missile launch or against a terrorist attack.
Meinhardt said that Slattery did not know how to proceed with SDI.
"My opponent has voted against testing in space. You can't have that system without testing in space," Meinhardt said.
Winter emphasized the importance of education.
"That's the business of state government; that's the number one priority," Winter said.
In other business, Frett Brazier College Republicans chairman, asked the group to attend the Baldwin Maple Leaf Festival on Saturday and Sunday to promote local candidates.
"This is the single most important event between two and the elections for us and the candidates," Frazier said.
He said that the group would mingle with the festival crowd, shaking hands and talking about their candidates.
"It's grassroots politics at its best," he said.
Naismith Drive construction to begin Monday New lane added
Dahlstrom & Ferrell Co., Inc.
On Monday will begin construction of a right turn lane on Nasmish Road from Mason Hill Road and Sundsside Avenue.
The 400-foot addition is part of construction of the new parking garage of Allen Peek House. Adding the new turn lane will cost $74,000.
Kent Francis, project manager on the Topta contractor handling fabrication of the welded wire fence would reach one foot into the existing southbound
The work, which will take two weeks, includes tearing out existing asphalt, installing a new curb and sidewalk, installing an asphalt and installing a new sidewalk.
Pedestrian traffic is a larger pedestrian. Mullens said the contractor will place warning signs on and around the site to warn pedestrians that there is no longer a sidewalk on the west side of Naimsh Drive.
"As long as pedestrians stay out
John Mullens, KU police lieutenant, said the narrowed street should not cause any traffic problems.
New lane added
"There will be people who will be uncomfortable with it because it is not the normal width," he said. "No Baismuia is already wide enough to usees to pass each other. There is enough room for the construction."
of the street we'll be OK," he said. Mullens said the majority of pedestrian traffic was on the east side of the street.
Another concern is what should be done with the present southbound lane. It is now Naismith's right turn lane, and officials must keep to their door to keep it that way or limit its access to Sunshineside Avenue.
James Modig, campus director of facilities planning, said no decision had yet been reached. He said the KU police would study automobiles and pedestrian traffic patterns, weeks before reaching a decision.
Mullens said his personal feeling was to limit the middle lane access to Sunyside Avenue.
More traffic will use that section
of Naismith next fall when the new parking garage is open, said Don Kearns, director of parking servi-
tory. The road was already crowded.
"If you go down there on Friday evenings, there's a traffic jam. Kimi and I had to talk about 778 spaces. We're going to dump it. We just have a traffic jam. We could justify anything."
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