MOUNT VERNON — Highlights of this edition of Municipal Minute range from flowers to flags to fire inspections.
Tom Hinkle, director of public works, reports that St. Vincent de Paul school students placed 1,700 flags on veterans graves in Mound View Cemetery in preparation for Memorial Day.
However, more flags are needed. The cemetery staff will order more and place them before Memorial Day.
Crews also hung flower baskets in preparation for Memorial Day and are readying the street closed, no parking, and detour signs on many side streets on the city’s East Side. Parking restrictions will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, May 27. Click here for a map of the parade route.
The Public Works Department hired four new staff members: one for streets, two for parks, and one for cemetery/public buildings and lands. All will start June 3.
Cemetery
Residents can help city workers by following the regulations for cemetery decorations. Click here to learn what is allowed or watch a video explaining the rules.
The cemetery department still needs seasonal workers. Anyone interested can apply at the cemetery (307 Wooster Rd.) or City Hall (40 Public Square).
Pay is $13 per hour. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 pm. Monday through Friday.
Public Buildings & Lands
•The city finished its fire inspections, including alarms, stove hoods, and backflow.
•Workers are helping replace heat pumps in the Plaza Building and planting flowers on Public Square.
•City Hall installed new video equipment. Monitors in the lobby and basement conference room will allow for a real-time simulcast of meetings in council chambers. Mayor Matt Starr hopes to have the monitors ready to go by the May 28th city council meeting.
•Crews recently remodeled an office in the water and income tax building.
Streets
The city ordered a traffic and battery backup cabinet to replace the one damaged when an accident took out the utility pole at Newark Road and Commerce Drive. Hinkle estimates the equipment will arrive in six months.
Another accident damaged the rapid flashing beacon at Newark Road and Spruce Street. Crews reinstalled the beacon. Other street news:
•Crews are still patching potholes, having laid about 95 tons of asphalt thus far. That number does not include utility digs. Crews are working mainly in the alleys.
•Workers are removing loose concrete and repairing the concrete apron at the Schnormeier Event Center in Ariel-Foundation Park.
•The chassis for the 1-ton dump truck arrived. The next step is to install the snow/ice package.
•Street sweeping and mowing are in progress.
Parks
•Workers pressure-washed and cleaned Harmony Playground.
•The city’s started its tree-watering program. Two staff members will fill the water bags daily. A grant from the Ariel Foundation covers program costs.
•Hiawatha Water Park opens this weekend. The staff is finishing up some lighting and bathroom repairs.
•The city added dirt at the Babe Ruth field, cut sod, and made some minor repairs.
•Park shelters are filling up fast.
•Cleanup Day is set for May 25 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Knox County Fairgrounds.
Engineering
City Engineer Brian Ball said one of next week’s goals is to put together a $5.6 million TRAC (Transportation Review Advisory Council) grant for the South Sandusky/Route 13 realignment project. The city’s match is $2 million.
The city has received a $2.5M small cities construction grant for the project. If TRAC approves the grant, the city will receive the money in 2025; construction will start in 2026.
The city previously received a $3.3 million TRAC grant for land acquisition and utility relocation.
Other engineering news:
•June 5 is the start date for work on the Dan Emmett improvement project. City staff will meet with residents and place door hangers about the project.
•The final public meeting on the West End neighborhood revitalization project is June 4 at 1 p.m. in council chambers.
•Water issues on Catherine Street are fixed. Equipment upgrades continue at the water plant.
•The city’s utilities commission voted to replace old water meters on Coshocton Avenue and ordered new meters on Tuesday.
•The city will hire students to update the city’s asset management plan. The Environmental Protection Agency requires the city to have a plan to track wells, generators, valves, and other equipment, noting new installations and upgrades.
•Ball anticipates the city will begin work on the Riverside Park splash pad in about four weeks. Ariel Corp. will fund the construction and agrees with the anticipated start date.
Administration
Mayor Matt Starr encouraged residents to review the zoning code update and a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the major changes. Click here to access both documents.
Crews are taking clean fill dirt from the Catherine Street project to Ariel-Foundation Park. Doing so fulfills two goals: re-vegetate areas that are hard to grow and save the city money on disposal fees.