Yes, it’s another exciting installment of my occasional series, “What municipalities in greater Lansing have sidewalk marking requirements?” Today I visited Grand Ledge’s municipal code and for a sidewalk fan like me, at least, it was a good read. That’s because it’s extremely detailed, perhaps the most of any that I’ve read so far, about issues like the proper width, grading, distance from the road, etc., of sidewalks, as well as assigning responsibility for the cost. It also has a section stipulating the conditions under which a sidewalk will be “presumed to be defective,” as follows:

1. There is a vertical displacement of three-fourths of an inch or greater;
2. There is a crack greater than one-half inch wide;
3. If any section is spalled, chipped or gouged over 25 percent or more of its surface area; or
4. If the sidewalk or non-motorized pathway slopes exceed those contained in the standards enumerated in section 34-3(c)(1) through (4);
5. If improper or insufficient drainage causes water to collect on the surface of the sidewalk or non-motorized pathway;
6. If any obstructions encroach within one foot of either side or within eight feet above the surface of the sidewalk or non-motorized pathway; or
7. If there are more than two cracks in any five-foot section of any sidewalk or non-motorized pathway.

I’m not sure why some of those provisions get an “or” on the end and others don’t. It looks like an oversight. Anyway, I think by the standards above, something like 25% of the sidewalk in my neighborhood would be presumed defective!

Ultimately, though, the sidewalk code of Grand Ledge is disappointing. The detailed, strict rules in it got me thinking that they would also be the kind of town that would want sidewalks to be stamped. Alas, it is not so. I can’t find anything in the code that requires sidewalk markings.