SYCAMORE – The Sycamore City Council sweetened the deal in a sidewalk replacement program Monday to entice more residents to address cracked and hazardous sidewalks.

Council members unanimously supported increasing the city’s contribution to the program from $3 per square foot to $4 per square foot to replace sidewalks, leaving residents responsible for less than half of the total cost. It costs $7 to remove and replace one square foot of sidewalk.

City Manager Brian Gregory proposed raising the contribution from $3 to $3.50 to meet the 50-50 standard the city wanted to reach when it first started the program in 2005. First Ward Alderman Alan Bauer said the city should increase the contribution to $4 if it wants to attract more participation.