By Cheryl Splain, KnoxPages.com Reporter
MOUNT VERNON — City Council members gave a first reading on Monday night to a resolution buying the former American National Can property from Pechiney Plastic Packaging Inc. for $1. The 46 acres will be split into two parcels: 18 acres for city use and 28 acres for industrial use.
The city annexed the land at 201 Madison St. before undertaking contamination cleanup of the property several years ago as the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency required. Cleanup is now complete, and the OEPA has approved a “no further action” letter stating the site is fit for industrial use.
The acreage is overgrown and a lot of debris material needs removed. City Engineer Brian Ball estimates it will cost about $15,000 to mow and remove the trash. He is still talking with the owner of Pechiney Plastic to see if the owner will accept that cost; the owner’s current feeling is that the city is buying the land “as is.” If Pechiney does not agree to pay the $15,000, the general consensus of council is that the cost of mowing and trash removal can be recouped when the land is sold.
When the process began in 2013, Pechiney Plastic owned the land. RioTinto has since bought Pechiney Plastic and has paid for some of the cleanup cost. Pechiney Plastic has also paid a significant amount of the overage cleanup costs.
Council also authorized the transfer of funds, accepted a $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Mount Vernon and Knox County for security equipment in municipal court and approved legislation to apply for a grant from the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District for a storm water project in Blackberry Alley.
Council removed Ordinance 2016-20, an ordinance setting the pay for the senior income tax assistant position, from the agenda and canceled a meeting of the Employee and Public Relations Committee scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Council members held a Utilities Committee meeting prior to the legislative session to discuss the appeal process for water/wastewater customers. Appeals will first be made to the utilities director; if the customer is not satisfied, he or she can appeal to the Water and Wastewater Commission and then to the Court of Common Pleas. Legislation will be presented at council’s next meeting on Oct. 24.
The Ginza Restaurant Group has applied for a liquor control license for its new restaurant, Ichiban Hibachi & Sushi, at 1558 Coshocton Ave, the site of the former Hallmark store. The application is a TREX application, a method to transfer a liquor license into an economic development project. Mayor Richard Mavis said he will sign the acknowledgment letter that states the restaurant meets the criteria for an economic development project.