Editor’s Note: This story was updated Aug. 24, 2022, at 6:10 pm to reflect that council only gave a first reading to legislation authorizing a Request for Proposals for outside management of Hiawatha Water Park.
Editor’s Note: This story was updated Aug. 23, 2022, at 4:45 pm to reflect that Jason Joyner spoke to council regarding the recent Dixie Days softball tournament at Memorial Park.
MOUNT VERNON — While no one argues that Burgess and Hamtramck streets need totally rebuilt, the huge price tag to fix them means the city has to do it in phases.
Until that happens, the city is reviving the idea of switching the parking to the other side of the streets. A street department employee initially suggested the idea four or five years ago.
“We’re hoping to put in the budget some money to start design on Burgess and Hamtramck next year,” City Engineer Brian Ball said. “But again, we’re looking at two or three blocks at a time, every other year getting the Community Development Block Grants.”
Ball said the side where cars currently park, the north side of both streets, is in a little bit better condition and that switching sides would not be a huge cost. Making the change involves checking the utilities, changing signage, and a lot of public mailings, notices, and participation.
“I like this idea,” Councilman Mel Severns, chair of the Streets and Public Buildings Committee, said. “I really believe it will be a lot smoother to move to the other side.”
One concern council noted is whether in the low spots, car doors will hit the pavement when opened. Another concern is the number of driveway cut-ins on the south side and whether there will be the same amount of parking as on the north side.
Severns noted that the north side will be easier to plow. Ball said the city is using extra salt on the street because the plows cannot get the snow out of the deep ruts.
Council members agreed they should consider switching sides. The engineering department will start the process by conducting a poll of Burgess and Hamtramck residents to get their feedback on the idea.
Also relating to streets, council passed emergency legislation authorizing the city to bid and contract for 2022 resurfacing and curb projects. Work includes asphalt and concrete paving and concrete work on curbs and gutters.
“We are looking this year to focus on the industrial park and the south end of town,” Ball said. “The industrial park has a lot of heavy truck traffic; there are some intersections where the edges have broken off from the trucks constantly going off the road.
“We’ll be widening and correcting that and then getting those roads resurfaced.”
Additionally, the city will return to Dixie Drive. When the city installed a water line several years ago, the city promised to install a cul-de-sac at the eastern end of the drive. The cul-de-sac will be of concrete and the road will be resurfaced with asphalt.
Emmett and Marma streets are also slated for asphalt resurfacing. Ball said the water lines are in good shape and sidewalks can be added later on those streets.
Parts of East and West Vine streets will get concrete curbs and gutters.
Ball plans to have the concrete work done by Thanksgiving; the asphalt work could potentially be bid this year with work likely done in 2023.
The resurfacing program underway is the 2021 program that was delayed to materials and labor shortages.
In other business, council amended and passed an ordinance giving the Historic Review Commission the authority to designate which structures qualify as historically or architecturally significant under the city-wide CRA (Community Reinvestment Area).
Council amended the ordinance to state structures taxed as commercial properties are not eligible for additional exemption years.
Council members suspended the rules and passed legislation authorizing the safety-service director to release a Request for Proposals to identify, select, and contract with a qualified firm(s) for construction and oversight services related to roof replacement and restoration services for the B&O and CA&C depots.
City Engineer Brian Ball said the goal is to preserve the historic significance of the depots. Most of the tiles are no longer manufactured.
The city wants to recycle the roofing tiles and seeks a qualified firm to palletize them and find a buyer. The roofs would then be restored with historically appropriate tiles.
Ball said the estimated restoration price is around $500,000 for each depot. The money is not in the 2022 budget; Ball said the city will select a firm and lock in a price this year, with construction slated for 2023.
“Hopefully, through this process we’ll get some good competition, and we’ll look at marketing the product and get some bid specificity,” he said.
Council members also gave a first reading to a resolution authorizing the safety-service director to release a Request for Proposals to identify and select a qualified firm for outside management of Hiawatha Water Park.
In other business, council:
•Approved a wage and benefit agreement for union employees in the public works and utilities departments (Civil Service Employees Association, AFSCME, Local 11, AFL-CIO)
•Authorized bill payment, fund transfers and appropriations. Appropriations include a $261,316 grant for design costs for the South Sandusky Street improvement project, $7,700 from the Ariel Foundation for design costs for the CA&C Memorial improvement project, and $700 in donations to PakUnited
•Gave a first reading to legislation authorizing the safety-service director to bid and contract for the Mansfield Avenue waterline project
•Gave a second reading to an ordinance annexing .562 acres in Pleasant Township into the city. Law Director Rob Broeren will research potential outcomes if council decides to vote no on the annexation request.
•Heard an update from Health Commissioner Zach Green
•Discussed an employee and volunteer recognition program during an Employee & Community Relations Committee meeting
•Heard from Justin Meier, Lyle David Daniels, and Jennifer Grubaugh about how the city’s lime sludge removal program has affected them
•Heard from Jason Joyner about the recent Dixie Days softball tournament. He requested the city remove a Facebook post, reinstate him as being able to reserve fields, develop a process, and explore ways to fundraise with the city.
