A City of Hoquiam program that shares the cost of sidewalk repair with residents got a boost from an $18,000 grant Monday.

The Residential Sidewalk Partnership Program allows residents with decaying sidewalks to team with the city to get them repaired. City Administrator Brian Shay said the program was created after the city saw another municipality having success with it.

“We found another city doing it and thought it was a great idea,” he said. “If a citizen pays for the concrete, the city pays for the labor to remove the old sidewalk and replace it.” The resident must also secure a permit for the work.

The program is active three months of the year, during the summer when temporary seasonal laborers are available to do much of the work. The $18,000 Risk Reduction Grant from the Washington Cities Insurance Authority will pay for the cost of temporary seasonal laborers.

The savings are significant for homeowners, as opposed to doing the work themselves and especially compared to hiring a contractor. The city benefits as well.

“It’s a great, great deal and we’re replacing sidewalks that otherwise are not getting replaced,” said Shay.

Ward 1 City Councilman Dave Wilson said when the grant was announced at Monday’s City Council meeting he had heard from some Public Works staff that the sidewalks program spread their efforts a little thin during the summer months because the department is understaffed. Wilson made it clear he was a strong supporter of the program, but felt he should mention what he was told.

Mayor Jasmine Dickhoff thanked Wilson for that, and agreed staffing in Public Works could use a boost. She told the council that the city was looking into replenishing the staff at the city, and Public Works was at the top of the list.

“In the current budget we added a position and just filled it recently,” said Shay. “It was the first time in years we filled a position (in public works), but we are still down three or four from where we used to be.”

Shay and Dickhoff said the potential conflicts between the sidewalks project and other city Public Works projects are minimal. Dickhoff pointed out it was only three months out of the year and it is a project Hoquiam citizens placed among their priorities for a better Hoquiam.

“It is one of the most appreciated projects the last 10 years,” said Dickhoff. The city saves money, sidewalks get repaired and residents see quicker results, she said. To date, the program has replaced more than a mile of residential sidewalks that do not qualify for state or federal grant funding.

Shay said there are usually one or two city employees who are on hand during sidewalk removal and repair, depending on the crew of seasonal laborers working with them.

“It varies from year to year, how many kids return and how quickly we get them up to speed,” said Shay. “There have been periods where we have had the same crew for three or four years,” and those who know the routine require less supervision and assistance.

There is a waiting list for the program. The repairs are prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis. Shay said there are times when a person on that list may have to wait a year, or up to three, before their sidewalk is fixed.

“We probably have enough on the waiting list that we would be hopeful just to get all those done this summer,” said Shay.

Residents interested in participating in the program can contact Tracy Wood at City Hall, 360-538-3970 or twood@cityofhoquiam.com.

DAN HAMMOCK | GRAYS HARBOR NEWS GROUP A program where Hoquiam residents can split the cost of sidewalk repairs with the city got a financial boost earlier this month, an $18,000 grant to pay for the cost of seasonal laborers.

DAN HAMMOCK | GRAYS HARBOR NEWS GROUP Hoquiam residents can share the cost of sidewalk repairs with the city. Residents pay for the cost of concrete and the city removes and replaces the sidewalk through the citys Residential Sidewalk Partnership Program.