Editor’s Note: This article was updated Feb. 15, 2023, at 8:40 am to reflect that Emily Platt is a consultant to the engineer’s office.
MOUNT VERNON — City council members waived the three readings and gave the okay to contract with Richland Engineering for design services for the Dan Emmett Neighborhood block grant project.
The city received a $750,000 CDBG grant (Community Development Block Grant) to install, replace, or relocate water, stormwater, and sewer lines on the city’s north side. The project boundaries are Dan Emmett Elementary School on the south, Mansfield Avenue on the west, Northgate Drive on the north, and Marcia Drive on the east.
The project also includes sidewalks, curbs and gutters, improving the school parking lot, and replacing playground equipment.
In addition to eliminating water, storm, and sewer problems in the project area, the work will help eliminate stormwater runoff on Mulberry and Sandusky streets.
Fifty thousand of the $750,000 grant will go to administrative costs.
The city will pair the remaining $700,000 for construction with a $245,000 Ariel Foundation grant for sidewalks. The city will cover the remaining costs through the water, stormwater, and sewer utilities.
Emily Platt, a consultant to the city’s engineering department, said Richland Engineering should complete the design work by the end of the year. Construction is scheduled for 2024.
In other infrastructure work, council members approved bidding and contracting for the Clintonville Phase 3 project. The work area includes Grange and Fearn avenues and involves sanitary, storm, and water lines.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has mandated the city eliminate sanitary sewer overflow by Sept. 1 of this year. Phases 1 and 2 are complete but do not fulfill the level of mandate.
The cost of $584,051 will come from the water, sewer, stormwater, and roads funds. Work will begin this summer or sooner based on bids received.
Citywide transportation study
Council also waived the three readings and authorized the safety-service director to enter into contract with Glaus, Pyle, Schomer, Burns & DeHaven, Inc. (GDP) for citywide transportation strategic planning. The cost is $115,000.
GDP will take “all of the ideas floating around,” consolidate them into one plan, and analyze the plan based on crash data and congestion analysis.
The congestion analysis will include traffic from the new housing developments under proposal. The crash data will include 2020-2022. Law Director Rob Broeren said the number of fatal accidents is increasing.
“This is the bedrock for a lot of the grants we apply for,” Broeren said of the strategic plan. “They want to see this sort of work as part of the grant application.”
Councilman Mike Hillier said nothing was done with a previous transportation study. Platt responded that study will be included in GDP’s analysis.
Water treatment plant
Relating to the water treatment plant, council gave a first reading to legislation authorizing a three-year contract with Gray Matter Systems (GMS).
GMS installed the current controls at the plant and is finishing its fifth phase of technology upgrades. Platt said the city has realized substantial cost savings because city staff has done a lot of the actual installations while GMS provided oversight and expertise.
The city has the parts necessary for GMS to move into Phase 6, designing and implementing a water treatment plant control system and security upgrades. The estimated cost in the contract’s first year is $100,000.
The contract includes training, but Platt was uncertain of the complete scope of work and the cost for years two and three. Safety-service Director Richard Dzik noted that as GMS goes through “triaging” systems, the scope will likely grow.
Concerned about having an open checkbook for years two and three, council members gave the legislation a first read. Platt will return to council’s next meeting with more information.
Other legislative action
Council took the following additional actions:
•Gave the first reading to legislation creating intern positions for human resources and the law director’s office and fixing the number of hourly employees in the water/wastewater department
•Approved compensation and benefits for employees with Mount Vernon Municipal Court
•Approved bill payment, allowing the Boy Scouts to use Ariel-Foundation Park for a camporee, buying and selling equipment in Public Works Department, and buying a dump truck for the water department
•Gave a second reading to legislation approving the comprehensive development plan for Liberty Crossing, a Highland Real Estate planned neighborhood development on Newark Road. A public hearing will be held at council’s next meeting on Feb. 27.
•Accepted the gift of a 9-foot bronze reproduction Statue of Liberty from the Ariel Foundation for the CA&C Depot
Parks and Lands Committee
SSD Dzik said he received bids from two companies for outside management of Hiawatha Water Park. Both bids are good but differ in cost.
One company has higher lifeguard pay; however, the other company has a tiered system whereby the city can pay more than the base rate and the increase will go toward increasing lifeguard pay.
Both companies plan to hire local personnel and use the list of prior personnel. If the pool has to close due to lack of lifeguards, the management company will be penalized.
Dzik plans to choose a company by the end of the week. Council will then decide whether to contract out or retain management of the water park.
