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SAWHORSE
Ottawa, IL Village, business owners discuss ADA compliance
Thursday, February 13, 2014 10:16 pm
Kate Reynolds,
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/village-business-owners-discuss-ada-compliance/article_c08aa90f-9258-5cd6-ad75-a692b827ebc7.html
What started as a 2013 complaint regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act has led to a meeting between Utica Mayor Gloria Alvarado, engineer Kevin Heitz and business owners to discuss tax credit information and entrance ramp design concepts.
Heitz and Alvarado distributed disability-related tax credits and incentive information to help small businesses with interior and exterior modifications. Some owners suggested the village could provide tax-increment-financing money, but Alvarado said some owners already have spent their own money to become ADA-compliant, making the assistance situation more difficult. Heitz explained that some businesses also may have applied for tax deductions and/or credits and were reimbursed.
There were also some misconceptions about the state granting a compliance waiver from their own rules when Mill Street was state-owned.
“I'm not sure where those facts came from but it's not true,” Heitz said. “We asked the state to give the village a break until we took over the street but businesses have always had to be compliant.”
When the noncompliance issues started, the village had no jurisdiction because Mill Street (Route 178) was controlled by the Illinois Department of Transportation. When Utica took over control of Mill Street in 2013, the attorney general's office asked the village to look into the possibility of tax incentives for noncompliant businesses. The incentives could help with interior modification issues, as well as outside issues, like a ramp.
“We have about seven businesses with seven- or eight-inch steps but no back access,” Heitz said. “There's also a business with a six-inch step with back access. Unfortunately, that access leads through a food preparation area. We also have a couple of business with a six-inch step and back access. So you can see, there are a lot of ramp variances we have to figure out.
“We relish our business community,” Heitz said, “and want to do what we can to help and provide information. But we cannot provide assistance for any interior modifications owners have to make to become compliant.”
Heitz said the village is not aware of what businesses are or not in compliance because owners answer to the attorney general's office. But because there are about six Mill Street businesses that may have to build a ramp onto village-owned right-a-ways, officials wanted to ensure they were all a uniform design. Heitz provided concepts for side and front approach ramps. The intent is for railing ramps to look similar to the fence around the tornado's memorial park.
“We don't have a handle on cost,” Heitz said, “but I'm guessing the project could be anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000. Each situation is different.”
Don Liesse, of Utica Community Bank, and Sharon Ciesielski, trust officer with La Salle State Bank, are in favor of the side approach ramp. The bank contacted the village about a ramp so Heitz said they would be the first business to begin work on the project, helping to provide cost information for other businesses.
Questioned by Liesse, Heitz said the project could take anywhere from four to five days, not including rail construction or contractor discussions. The state has not given any deadline for a completed business district compliance. ADA enforcement and compliance deadline issues are between business owners and the attorney general's office and have nothing to do with the village.
Ciesielski said the bank would wait to see what the village decides before proceeding with any exterior ramp work.
Thursday, February 13, 2014 10:16 pm
Kate Reynolds,
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/village-business-owners-discuss-ada-compliance/article_c08aa90f-9258-5cd6-ad75-a692b827ebc7.html
What started as a 2013 complaint regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act has led to a meeting between Utica Mayor Gloria Alvarado, engineer Kevin Heitz and business owners to discuss tax credit information and entrance ramp design concepts.
Heitz and Alvarado distributed disability-related tax credits and incentive information to help small businesses with interior and exterior modifications. Some owners suggested the village could provide tax-increment-financing money, but Alvarado said some owners already have spent their own money to become ADA-compliant, making the assistance situation more difficult. Heitz explained that some businesses also may have applied for tax deductions and/or credits and were reimbursed.
There were also some misconceptions about the state granting a compliance waiver from their own rules when Mill Street was state-owned.
“I'm not sure where those facts came from but it's not true,” Heitz said. “We asked the state to give the village a break until we took over the street but businesses have always had to be compliant.”
When the noncompliance issues started, the village had no jurisdiction because Mill Street (Route 178) was controlled by the Illinois Department of Transportation. When Utica took over control of Mill Street in 2013, the attorney general's office asked the village to look into the possibility of tax incentives for noncompliant businesses. The incentives could help with interior modification issues, as well as outside issues, like a ramp.
“We have about seven businesses with seven- or eight-inch steps but no back access,” Heitz said. “There's also a business with a six-inch step with back access. Unfortunately, that access leads through a food preparation area. We also have a couple of business with a six-inch step and back access. So you can see, there are a lot of ramp variances we have to figure out.
“We relish our business community,” Heitz said, “and want to do what we can to help and provide information. But we cannot provide assistance for any interior modifications owners have to make to become compliant.”
Heitz said the village is not aware of what businesses are or not in compliance because owners answer to the attorney general's office. But because there are about six Mill Street businesses that may have to build a ramp onto village-owned right-a-ways, officials wanted to ensure they were all a uniform design. Heitz provided concepts for side and front approach ramps. The intent is for railing ramps to look similar to the fence around the tornado's memorial park.
“We don't have a handle on cost,” Heitz said, “but I'm guessing the project could be anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000. Each situation is different.”
Don Liesse, of Utica Community Bank, and Sharon Ciesielski, trust officer with La Salle State Bank, are in favor of the side approach ramp. The bank contacted the village about a ramp so Heitz said they would be the first business to begin work on the project, helping to provide cost information for other businesses.
Questioned by Liesse, Heitz said the project could take anywhere from four to five days, not including rail construction or contractor discussions. The state has not given any deadline for a completed business district compliance. ADA enforcement and compliance deadline issues are between business owners and the attorney general's office and have nothing to do with the village.
Ciesielski said the bank would wait to see what the village decides before proceeding with any exterior ramp work.