City to Inspect Green Meadows West Sidewalks by November 2023

The City of Johnston has posted information regarding its plans to inspect all sidewalks in Green Meadows West and other neighborhoods, and to repair/replace at homeowners’ expenses in 2024 those that are out of compliance. Homeowners will have an option to repair or contract repairs themselves.

This will be the second year of an 8-year, city-wide Sidewalk Repair Program. The project's execution began earlier this year in the original Green Meadows neighborhood, which is located between Beaver Creak and Merle Hay Road, and south of N.W. 62nd Avenue.

The program will help address:

• Gaps between sidewalk panels
• Tripping hazards, including heaved, raised, or lowered sidewalk panels
• Deteriorated, crumbling, cracked, or unevenly surfaced panels 

While this work is being done, city contractors will also ensure that corner "pedestrian ramps" (also called "ped-ramps" and "curb cuts") meet current requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA.) Homeowners will not be charged for this ADA-related work.

According to information first presented at two public information meetings held Wed. Sept. 27, 2023 at the Johnston City Hall, Green Meadows West homeowner-members could see city inspectors marking neighborhood sidewalks as early as October or November 2023.

A presentation the city's repair program, as well as common types of sidewalk deficiencies, is now available on-line here: www.cityofjohnston.com/DocumentCenter/View/12007/Johnston-Sidewalk-Repair-Presentation_Public-Meeting-92723

According to the September 2023 meetings, all homeowners will be presented with official, written inspection results by March 2024. Recommended repairs will be detailed and documented for each homeowner address.

However, homeowners need not wait for these reports or notices. City inspectors are available to meet with individual homeowners at any time, officials said.

Pubic works officials said that the Sidewalk Repair Program should not interfere or interact with the city's concurrent efforts to cut down untreated Ash trees in rights-of-way. "Our goal is to not to take any trees with our sidewalk program," said Johnston Public Works Director Matt Greiner. "Our contractors will typically only cut the root [of any tree causing a sidewalk to heave or shift]. That doesn't mean, however, that the problem won't grow back in 5 or 10 years."

Prior to the city's sidewalk-reconstruction efforts in Green Meadows West, additional public information meetings will be held in March-April 2024. Homeowners will then be presented with three options:

• DIY repair within 90 days. (City permit required, but right-of-way permit fees will be waived.)
• Privately contract repairs within 90 days. (City permit required, but right-of-way permit fees will be waived.)
• Have city contractors repair the sidewalk at a flat, per-panel rate. (Neighborhood-wide project likely to occur Fall 2024 or Spring 2025.)

City officials and experts said 4-foot-square sidewalk panels will be determined in each neighborhood's contract. They expect more clarity on Green Meadows West rates by March 2024, after work is complete in the original Green Meadows neighborhood. Variables include contractor bids and materials costs. At the September 2023 meetings, however, they estimated the city's flat-rate charge to homeowners would likely be set between $350 to $550 per sidewalk panel.

Homeowners opting to repair sidewalks under city contract will be given an option to pay directly, or through special assessment over a period of 5 or 10 years. Further details on available payment plans will be presented in March 2024, city officials said.

For more information on the city's sidewalk repair plans, visit:

https://www.cityofjohnston.com/1228/Sidewalk-Repair-Program

Review the September 2023 public meeting information packet here:

www.cityofjohnston.com/DocumentCenter/View/12007/Johnston-Sidewalk-Repair-Presentation_Public-Meeting-92723

Or contact:

Matt Greiner, public works director

mgreiner AT cityofjohnston DOT com

phone: 515 - 278 - 0822

Give Your Mailbox a Little TLC Before the Snow Flies

PHOTO: U.S. Postal Service

Homeowners use their mailboxes nearly everyday. Real estate agents will tell you that a mailbox is a key element in a home’s curb appeal—it’s one of the first things a visitor sees of a property. The U.S. Postal Service even recommends annual check-ups, ensuring that mail carriers can safely approach and access residential mailboxes, that addresses are clearly identified, and that delivered mail is protected from the elements.

More tips include:

• Tighten loose hinges on the door.

• Take care of rusty or loose parts.

• Replace missing or faded house numbers.

The Green Meadows West Homeowners’ Association has covenants governing the appearance and function of mailboxes: Mailboxes are to be black, with white house numbers, with an open attachment into which newspapers and flyers can be delivered. The attachment is necessary because federal law stipulates that only homeowners and postal carriers may access the interior of a mailbox, and that only postage-bearing materials may be placed into a mailbox. The law also stipulates that materials may not be hung, stuck, or otherwise attached to a mailbox.

When the Green Meadows West neighborhood was first developed by a real estate subsidiary of Pioneer Hi-Bred in the early 1990s, the paint specified was an olive or brown color. After that color was no longer available on the market, all plats within the association migrated to an all-black alternative. While there are still olive-brown mailboxes found in the neighborhood, these are expected to change with maintenance.

“The intent behind requiring a uniform-look is to put the aesthetic focus on houses, not mailboxes,” says neighborhood association board member Jack Sullivan.

The Johnston Ace Hardware store at 5800 Merle Hay Rd. is the designated vendor of Green Meadows West mailboxes. A pole and base costs $178.50. A mailbox, which includes the newspaper attachment, costs $20. Installation is available for $75. House numbers are $1 each.

Hardware store owner Gordon Sterk says that, unless a mailbox has been hit by a car or truck, total replacement is often unnecessary. “All you have to do is sand down the pole, paint it a [satin] back, and maybe replace the mailbox itself,” he says.

“Four stainless steel screws attach it to the base—no need to spend $200.” Johnston Postmaster Joleen Bolger reminds homeowners that mailboxes should have functional red flags. When raised, these indicate to carriers that outgoing mail is present.

“Unless they have mail for a given address, or they see a raised flag, postal carriers aren’t required to stop.” Keeping mailboxes clear of obstacles, such as trash cans or parked vehicles, is also important. “Postal carriers are not able to dismount their vehicles, unless it’s to deliver a package,” she says.

Dates Posted for 2014 Cleanup Days, Shredding, and Garage Sales

Ready to jump into some spring cleaning? The Green Meadows West Homeowners Association will conduct its annual "neighborhood garage sale" Fri., May 2 and Sat. May 3, 2014.

On and around these dates, neighbors are encouraged to conduct and advertise their individual sales. The association will advertise the neighborhood-wide event via online classifieds, social media, and yard signs posted at entrances.

Starting Mon., April 28, individual signage in association common areas will be allowed temporarily, including at neighborhood entrances. Subject to city enforcement, neighbors are reminded to place signs approximately 18 feet away from the curb on the following streets:

• N.W. 86th Street

• N.W. 54th Avenue

• N.W. 62nd Avenue

Signs should be removed by those who placed the signs not later than Mon., May 5.

This is the first year that the neighborhood garage sale will not be conducted immediately prior to the City of Johnston's annual "Cleanup Days" event. At this year's annual meeting, members asked that the neighborhood garage sale be moved to a potentially warmer month. On Mon., April 14 and Tues., April 15 Johnston residents can place additional trash and bulky waste items for collection during normal trash collection.

Tires and tree branches may also be disposed of through the city's department of public works, 6400 N.W. Beaver Drive, on April 10, 11, and 12. Branches cannot be larger than 18 inches in diameter. Drop-off hours are from 7:30 am until 3:30 p.m. on Thurs., April 10 and Fri., April 11;, 8:00 a.m until 12 noon on Sat., April 12. Click here for details.

Getting rid of out-dated tax records or other personal, private information? A FREE on-site paper-shredding service will be located at the Johnston Public Library, 6700 Merle Hay Road, on Sat., April 19, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Keep Pools Cool, Safe, and Within Covenants

The Green Meadows West Homeowners’ Association encourages members to keep kids and pets safe this summer by observing all Johnston municipal laws and neighborhood covenants regarding swimming pools. Consumer and safety experts warn that small children can easily drown in small pools, toilets, and even 5-gallon buckets.

According to the City of Johnston, a pool is “any structure intended for swimming, recreational bathing or wading capable of containing water 24-inches-deep or more. This includes in-ground, above-ground, and on-ground pools; hot tubs; spas.”

Green Meadows West neighbors planning to install in-ground swimming pools should ensure they first purchase a building permit from the City of Johnston prior to construction, and meet building code requirements. Requirements include a 6-foot-high non-climbable fence with a self-locking gate.”

Green Meadows West covenants prohibit above-ground swimming pools other than “small swimming pools for infants.” In-ground pools are permitted.

The association recently successfully litigated the removal of an above-ground swimming pool. The pending removal is the third such enforcement action in neighborhood history. Fines of $17,000 or more may be assessed in the most-recent case.

For more information on Johnston building code requirements, click here.

For more information on Green Meadows West covenants, click here.

Neighborhood-wide Garage Sale is April 19-20

The annual Green Meadows West neighborhood garage sale will be Friday and Saturday, April 19 and 20.

Official signs will be posted as early as April 15, and neighborhood rules about posting garage and yard sale signs in common areas will temporarily be suspended. Members are asked to remove their individual signs not later than Mon., April 22.

The neighborhood-wide sale will also be advertised in The Des Moines Register, Craigslist, and other online and print venues.

The annual event takes place annual the week prior to Johnston Spring Clean Up Days. This year, Spring Clean-up Days will occur the week of April 22.

According to the City of Johnston website, details include:

• Curbside pickup for large items will be on April 22 and 23. Please have your items curbside by 6 a.m. to insure your items will be collected. These items do not require a sticker for the pickup.

• Your pickup date will be the same as your normal garbage day.

• Hazardous items are not allowed during the clean up. Televisions may be set curbside for disposal.

• Tree branches will be accepted again this year at the Johnston Public Works facility at 6400 NW Beaver Drive. Dates and hours for this service are: Thurs., April 25, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Fri., April 26, 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.; and Sat., April 27, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

• Passenger tires may be dropped off at the Public Works facility from Mon., April 22 to Fri., April 26th between the hours of 7:30 and 3:30 a.m. Tires must not be mounted on wheels or rims.