One Tryon commissioner is calling for a citizen-driven committee to inventory and make plans to repair town sidewalks.

Commissioner George Baker told other council members during the March meeting he has heard from residents that sidewalks all over town are in need of repair.

Baker suggested the town put together a committee of concerned citizens and a town liaison to survey where sidewalks need repair and where sidewalks are needed, and put together a plan to fix the sidewalks.

“I know we don’t have any money but at least we can have a plan when we do have money,” Baker told council.

Tryon Mayor Jim Wright said sidewalks may be something the town needs to think about. He said maybe the Tryon Downtown Development Association (TDDA), the Tryon Tourism Development Authority (TTDA) and council representatives on a citizen committee along with the public works director would be beneficial. Wright said he suggested public works director Gary Walker be a part of the committee since he knows how to fix the sidewalks in need of repair.

Baker said he started thinking about town sidewalks during his “Corner the Commissioner” meetings he holds for anyone who wants to talk about town issues with him the Monday prior to monthly meetings. Baker said he envisions a committee made up of mostly citizens along with the town manager and public works director to inventory which sidewalks need repair first. Baker said then the town can decide where new sidewalks need to be installed.

“Let’s first fix the ones we’ve got then start connecting (new sidewalks with current ones),” Baker said.

Baker is available at the visitor’s center in town hall on the third Monday of the month to meet with any resident who wants to talk about town issues. Baker started Corner the Commissioner to give residents a way to address concerns who may not want to go to a council meeting. Baker brings up issues to council he hears from residents. Council meets on the third Tuesday of the month at the Tryon Fire Department.

Baker said he plans on bringing up the establishment of a sidewalk committee during Tryon’s next meeting next Tuesday, April 21 and encourages residents to attend the meeting to discuss the issue.