A Lawrence homeowner who recently voiced concerns about the state of the city’s sidewalks has made a formal request that the city reimburse him for $1,125 he had to pay to improve his sidewalk.

“City leadership needs to stand up now and take responsibility for maintaining their own property, and stop hiding behind outdated laws,” Bill Flohrs, of Overland Park, wrote in an e-mail forwarded to city leaders this week.

Flohrs bought a home in the 1800 block of Maine for his children to occupy while they attend Kansas University. He said he was told he’d have to replace the sidewalk but was shocked to he had to pay for it even though it was in the city’s right-of-way.

Commissioner Sue Hack said that as far as she knows, the city has never reimbursed a homeowner in the way Flohrs is requesting.

“I would be very surprised if the commission did that,” she said. “To take a single case and reimburse that individual, I think that opens up a can of worms that I don’t see us doing.”