Mapleton council remains undecided on whether Heritage Funeral Home will be reimbursed for repairs made to its property following the Drayton sidewalk revitalization in 2011.
Funeral home owners Ken and Mary Thompson are seeking $1,865 from the municipality to cover the cost of replacing a flower bed that was removed during the project, as well as the layer of asphalt applied to their driveway as a result of a raise in the sidewalk grade.
The Thompsons first request for financial compensation was turned down, following a report conducted by public works director Larry Lynch. The report concluded there had been no major change in sidewalk grades other than those necessary for efficient drainage.
Mary Thompson once again approached council on Nov. 26 with her request after learning Alva Cherry Garage, another downtown business, was provided $2,054 for repairs to its parking lot after sidewalk drainage caused water to pool on their property.
“I didn’t like (the original report and refusal) but I accepted it and the decision that you made and I was living with it until all of a sudden, yet another person in downtown Drayton is getting their stuff paid for,” Thompson told council last week.
The raised sidewalk at the end of the funeral home driveway was a tripping hazard and liability issue, Thompson said, as many residents walking to and from the Drayton Festival Theatre use it.
“All I ask is to be treated equally, fairly and with the same respect afforded to other downtown businesses and residents who were affected by this sidewalk replacement,” Thompson said.
Council deferred the matter until its Dec. 10 meeting where it will review the public works director’s report.
