Editor’s note: This article was updated on July 25, 2024, to reflect that a CDBG grant, not an OPWC grant, will cover income-eligible residents’ tap fees for the sewer line.
MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon City Council members heard details about two water and sewer projects on Monday night, but they’re also wondering where the money will come from to pay the city’s cost-share.
Legislation for the Mansfield Avenue water line project was up for a second reading. Legislation for the Stump Street/Northview Drive water and sewer project was up for a first reading.
The estimated cost of the two projects is nearly $1.932 million. The city’s share is about $1.365 million.
Also on the agenda for a first reading was legislation to acquire two lime silo and slaker systems. That cost is $1.488 million. Public Utilities Director Tom Marshall previously told council the east silo is inoperable, and the west silo is in imminent failure.
When asked whether the city could afford the Mansfield Avenue water line project, or even half of it, City Auditor Terry Scott said no. He recommended that city departments get together and figure out which project needs to happen first, and then the city will figure out the funding.
Council member Tammy Woods, chair of the Utilities Committee, questioned how projects are proposed in legislation without the city having the capacity to pay for them.
“I am taken aback that there are things proposed on the same agenda that our auditor says there are not funds for,” she said.
Later in the evening she said her message to the Utilities Commission is that some sort of strategic plan has got to come out of the commission.
“I won’t put up with ordinances and resolutions coming to me where this council has to decide on something that’s greater than our budget,” she said, adding that there has to be some sort of hierarchy to what needs done in the city rather than legislation coming to council and finding out it’s unaffordable.
“Passing legislation is not how we will raise the rates as long as I sit on the commission.”
She also said she feels like the city puts the cart before the horse when it applies for grants and then comes to council to get approval for the match.
“Shouldn’t it be the other way around?” she asked.
Stump Street/Northview Drive
Knox Public Health declared the Stump Street/Northview Drive area a health hazard because several private septic systems are discharging waste into the storm sewers on North Sandusky Street. The land is in Clinton Township, not the city.
Improvements include replacing 2-inch water lines with 6-inch lines and installing sanitary sewer lines along Northview and improving water lines and redirecting sewer lines along Stump.
Here’s how the city will cover the $612,000 cost:
•$500,000 through a 20-year, zero-interest loan from Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) (approved)
•$75,000 OPWC grant (approved)
•$37,000 city funds
It is not yet decided where the $25,000 annual payment will come from to repay the $500,000 loan. Scott said he approached Clinton Township Water and Sewer District officials about paying back the loan since they charge a fee to township residents.
According to Scott, the township trustees indicted they could help pay for the tap-in fees, thus freeing up some of the grant money for other costs. He also suggested that perhaps the township could use some ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) money to repay the loan.
“There is nothing that prohibits us from going to the township or water and sewer district to seek help paying for this,” he told council.
Nineteen of the 39 residences in the area are not on city sewer but will be required to connect to the city’s system. Emily Platt of the city’s engineering department said residents have voiced some resistance.
“The health department ordered them to hook up. We did not do that,” Law Director Rob Broeren said.
Councilwoman Janis Seavolt was concerned that if the residents don’t understand the need to hook into the city’s system, how are they going to understand being forced to pay the surcharges when they can’t afford them and don’t want them.
“They’re going to be awfully upset with the city because they’re not in the city, and the city’s forcing this on them,” she said. “There are places in the city that need help, and there are city residents that we have to take care of.
“I know that eventually we have to go to that area, but … we don’t have the money to fix everything. We’ve got to look at the citizens before we look at other places.”
A CDBG grant covers income-eligible residents’ tap fees to connect to city sewer lines. Property owners will have to pay the cost to hook into city water lines. However, many of the residents already have city water.
Mansfield Avenue water line
The Mansfield Avenue water line is, according to Platt, one of the top failing parts of the city’s water system. She noted it has “19 historic breaks and counting.”
The $1,327,900 project runs from Northridge Drive to past Grange Avenue. Improvements include water lines on the west side of the roadway and stormwater improvements on the east side.
Platt said the money will come from three city funds:
•$526,117 stormwater
•$633,126 water
•$168,048 roads & bridges
Platt said it will take 70 to 100 weeks to get the water lines. Engineering wants to bid out and award a portion of the project so that materials can be ordered. The city will then return to council and ask it to budget funds from the 2023 or 2024 budget, depending on when the lines arrive.
Auditor Scott said the city cannot afford the project without raising rates.
“There are not sufficient funds to make it happen,” he said, adding that the city has to determine what project is the most critical.
