MOUNT VERNON — Council members waived the required three readings on Monday and approved contracting with GDP Group for planning and design services to improve the Coshocton Avenue/Upper Gilchrist intersection.
Council and residents have previously discussed the improvements needed to handle increased traffic from the development of Gilchrist Estates and The Retreat at Mount Vernon.
Discussions started a number of years ago in conjunction with the Colonial Woods condominiums. City Engineer Brian Ball said the city wanted to partner with Colonial Woods on road improvements when Colonial Woods started Phase 2 of construction. Phase 2 never transpired.
Upper Gilchrist is a township road with ditches, no walking amenities, and problems with the traffic signal. The project covers Upper Gilchrist Road from Coshocton Avenue to the city limits north of Gilchrist Estates.
Ball said the GDB contract is for design services for reconstructing the road with modern, safe drainage, a bike trail on the east side, and possibly a sidewalk on the west side “so that we’re connecting our new citizens to a walkable area” in accordance with the city’s master plan.
“Rockford has committed to building the bike trail on their section of property and helping with the project. They’re also doing some of the utility work that will be required for this,” he said.
Ball said the contract will include preliminary designs for Coshocton Road/US 36 east of Upper Gilchrist.
“We need to seriously look at Coshocton Road as it leaves town. This commercial area for sale — Rockford frontage — we’re getting a lot of interest in,” he said. “What we don’t want to do is have the commercial district be built, and then go back and tear the road out and completely redo it like the other three phases of Coshocton Avenue were done.”
The commercial area is roughly 12 acres. Ball said the goal is to be proactive, study the area, look at utility extensions needed as the east end develops, define the needs, and perhaps change boundaries so that when it is time to make the improvement to a multi-lane road, the city will not have to interrupt business operations in the commercial area.
Also relating to development, council held a public hearing as part of the process of creating a New Community Authority. An NCA pays for new-growth infrastructure through an assessment on residents and businesses in the new development.
The proposed residential assessment is 4 mills, which would generate $4 million over 20 years. Highland Real Estate, the developer of Liberty Crossing, has said it will join the NCA.
Rockford Homes, developer for The Retreat at Mount Vernon, has asked to join.
The NCA does not apply to established developments and residents. However, a development such as Schlabach Builders’ Gilchrist Estates, which is still under construction, could apply to join the NCA. In that case, the assessment would apply only to Phase 2 and future residents.
No community members attended the hearing other than Tony DiIulis, who expressed interest in serving on the NCA board. The board will receive new petitions, review and prioritize them, and forward recommendations to city council.
In its legislative session, council members gave the first reading to an ordinance establishing the NCA. Council took the following additional legislative actions:
•Approved bill payments, supplemental appropriations, and fund transfers
•Accepted the recommendations of the Tax Incentive Review Commission to continue the CRA exemption for the Woodward Development Corp., the Enterprise Zone exemption for Chesterland Productions (Sanoh America), and the city’s three tax increment financing districts
•Gave the first reading to legislation accepting the Municipal Planning Commission’s recommendation to approve the comprehensive development plan for the Ohio Area on Aging’s proposed eight-unit senior apartment complex for 301 and 303 N. Norton St.
•Approved by a 6 to 1 vote to accept the annexation of 105 acres on Martinsburg Road
Health Commissioner Zach Green updated council on Knox Public Health activities. Food inspectors are busy with the fair, First Fridays, and other events.
KPH awarded the contract to renovate 202 W. Vine St. to Modern Builders. KPH is waiting on state permits and is discovering supply issues in several areas.
The plan is to move staff from 206 S. Mulberry into 202 W. Vine St., hopefully by the end of the year. Renovations include additional space for behavioral health services.
KPH has 58 confirmed or suspected cases of Lyme disease, 18 more than this time last year. Green said black-legged deer ticks are still very prominent, and that is not going to change.
Regarding water/wastewater, KPH epidemiology staff will start doing influenza testing in wastewater this fall.
West-end residents Tonya Kent and Don Lang spoke to council about their concerns with the decertification of the levee along the river. Lang also spoke about his request for the city to vacate Maplewood Alley and his desire to be allowed to ride his utility vehicle on city streets.
