Twenty years sound like a long time. However, when you trying to get everything in your community compliant with the government, 20 years really isn’t long.
“That’s the balance I have to do because I have to make sure all their bullet points between the county and the city and to make sure they’re compliant so they get all of their grant money,” said ADA Director for Clinton County Tim Clark. “At the same time, I have to get (County Wide) Coalition up and going.”
Clark explained all of this to about 15 citizens, county and city officials during a public meeting at the Frankfort Police Station Tuesday night.
Clark added the Department of Justice wants a coalition up and running as soon as possible.
“I’m going to tell you that they are very, very few buildings in Clinton County that are fully compliant,” said Clark. “The building you’re standing in today (Frankfort Police Station is).”
Frankfort Mayor Judy Sheets says she knows the City of Frankfort is gong to have a lot of work to do to become ADA compliant.
“We’ve had an ADA Transition Plan before and we’ve actually submitted it and updates on things like we were suppose to over the years,” said Sheets. “But we know it’s time now that we are g0ing to have to step up our game. We’ve got to do better job and it’s been very important to us.”
Sheets added another very important thing.
“We want to fix what we need to fix for ADA and to be compliant to serve our citizens much better with disabilities,” said Sheets. “But also, it is something that INDOT is making us do that when we apply for grants and stuff, that’s something they look at. That’s our ADA Transition Plan.”
Don Stock, who is serving as the City of Frankfort ADA Coordinator on this matter, talks about what he wants to see out of the new plan.
“I want to see us take care of all the citizens in the City of Frankfort,” said Stock. “I think by putting this ADA program together, it has slipped through the rocks I guess you could say. But now, we’re going to make it right.”
Stock added the city has sort of started an ADA plan with the 50/50 sidewalk plan they offer which fixes sidewalks and curbs.
How long does the City to fix all of this?
“The City has 20 years to take care of the process,” said Stock. “It’s that way because we know there is going to be a lot of things in the city buildings, like Old Stoney, and it’s going to take us a little while to get all of that done.”
Stock added that Sheets is completely behind everything they they are going to have to do.