MOUNT VERNON — A resolution relating to Edgewood Road improvements generated public comment during Monday’s city council meeting.
Residents Dennis and Tammy Swingle oppose legislation that authorizes the city to contract with the Ohio Department of Transportation to widen Edgewood Road from Gambier Road to Coshocton Avenue.
Other improvements include drainage and sidewalk enhancements.
Dennis Swingle said council is asked to “approve a path to funding without documentation or details defining the changes that would be made to the Edgewood Road and Highland Park neighborhood.”
“Resolution 2024-23 is an attempt to get city council on board, in stealth mode, to support a project without any construction plans, drawings or proper engineering descriptions and without public input,” he said. “It would be in the best interest of the public, city council and especially the residents of the Edgewood Road area to see such plans, drawings, etc. so there could be discussion of the issues.”
Swingle called on council to table the resolution pending full public disclosure of details.
Tammy Swingle said her main message is that Edgewood Road and neighborhood residents are against widening and extending the road to Coshocton Avenue.
Reviewing requests dating to 1990 to divert traffic off Edgewood, she said that alternative routes went by the wayside as development occurred.
Special meeting
City council members gave the resolution its first reading.Â
Councilman Mel Severns announced a meeting on Wednesday, March 6, to discuss the legislation. Severns chairs the Streets and Public Buildings Committee.
The meeting is from 6 pm to 8 pm in council chambers at City Hall.Â
If the number of residents attending surpasses the room capacity, some will speak from 6 to 7 pm. Council will clear the room, and the remaining residents can speak from 7 to 8 pm.
Project scope
Safety-service Director Tanner Salyers told Knox Pages Thursday that the Edgewood Road improvement project is two-phased.Â
Phase 1 covers Edgewood from Gambier Road (Route 229) to East High Street.Â
Improvements include:
•Extending sanitary sewer lines and installing modern storm sewer, including curb and gutter and catch basins
•Completly replacing water lines from Gambier Road to East High Street to improve water flow and reliability and reduce service disruptions
•Regrading Edgewood between Gambier Road and East High for improved drainage and overall safety
•Resurfacing that section of Edgewood
•Sidewalks on the west side of Edgewood to connect existing sidewalks
•Crosswalk installation
Salyers said the city might need to acquire limited property to install sidewalk and utilities. This will be determined through further design and discussions with property owners.
Salyers expects the work to begin in spring 2026.
The city is asking council to approve design services because Columbia Gas plans to work on Edgewood Road north of Gambier Road in 2025.
Salyers said one of the goals of design collaboration with Columbia Gas is to ensure Columbia’s lines are not in the way of the city’s future storm sewer system.
