Erath property owner says ramp not on sidewalk

ERATH — Erath City Councilman Jason Connor proposed a motion to remove the wooden ramp that had been built in front of a resident’s house on Putnam Street. However, before a vote could take place, the property owner revealed surprising information that halted the voting process.
Kim Brasseaux told the Erath council and Mayor Taylor Mencacci that he owns the property and rents it out. 
He explained that his tenant, an elderly woman, hired someone to build the ramp in front of the house, which made it easier to go in and out of the house on her scooter. The woman received the OK from Mencacci to build it.
That was about three months ago, and some residents on Putnam Street are trying to get the town to remove the ramp because it is blocking the town’s sidewalk. The town has an ordinance that states nothing can block sidewalks. 
At the meeting, a handful of Erath residents told the council that the ramp poses a danger to those walking or riding their bikes because, with the ramp on the sidewalk, they now have to walk or ride on the road.
However, Brasseaux then stood up and educated the council about the history of the house where the ramp is located. At one time, the house was an old grocery store, and what everyone thought was a sidewalk was not.
“It is not the town’s sidewalk,” Brasseaux explained. “The ramp is on the slab that the house was built on before it was raised.  There is no sidewalk on the west side of the house, facing Suire Street. 
“That is also the slab.”
 Before the vote, Erath councilman  Cory Duplantis had a few questions after Brasseaux spoke about the slab.
“You have to determine first, is it a sidewalk or not?” Duplantis asked. “If it is not, then you may have an easement ordinance. We need to check on that before we decide.”
The council made a second motion to have city attorney Bart Broussard research to see if what is in front of the Brasseaux-owned house is a sidewalk or a cement slab extension.
Before the ramp was built, there were cement steps that led into the front door.