MOUNT VERNON — Tom Hinkle, director of Public Works, reports that Mount Vernon has upgraded four scoreboards at local parks.
Two are at softball fields Nos. 2 and No. 3 in Memorial Park. The city replaced the old scoreboards with new ones that are remote-controlled.
Workers also retrofitted the scoreboard at Memorial Park’s field No. 4. It is relatively new with LED lights, and crews installed a receiver to make it remote-controlled.
The third new scoreboard went to Dan Emmett Park.
Ongoing maintenance and upgrades are part of the master plan for local parks.
Vandalism continues to be a problem. Hinkle said graffiti is the main issue, but there was a toilet paper fire at Riverside Park.
The police caught two youths involved in a trash can fire at Hiawatha Water Park, and the city is working with the juveniles to arrange restitution.
Other park work includes mowing, trash pickup, and buying 20 new inner tubes for Hiawatha.
Streets
Crews are repairing catch basins on Upper Gilchrist Road and Concord Street, Concord Court, and Concord Boulevard. The primary issue is loose fittings that allow debris into the system.
Other street work includes:
•Street sweeping and weed spraying
•Arm mowing — a stretch on the dike is delayed to maintain lilies and milkweed for bees and butterflies
•Alley tree trimming
•Event setup for Memorial Day and First Friday
•Pothole patching — now mostly utility digs. The city will compile a list as residents call about other potholes and patch them in groups.
Cemetery
The Veterans Service Office flags placed in Mound View Cemetery for Memorial Day will be removed after July 4. Visitors are welcome to replace the flags on their own.
Hinkle said there is a shortage of flag holders for veterans. The city will buy more when they become available.
He noted mowing is ongoing and reminded residents to check cemetery rules and regulations.
Public Buildings & Land
Workers are almost done replacing three HVAC units in the Plaza Building at 5 N. Gay St. and maintaining the outside HVAC units.
Staff is also busy with routine maintenance on the fountain on Public Square, mowing, and concrete patching at Ariel-Foundation Park.
City Hall’s carpets were cleaned, and window cleaning is scheduled. Staff also installed bloodborne pathogen kits around city offices.
Water & Wastewater
Public Utilities Director Aaron Reinhart reports the department will hold a competitive exam for Utility Technician I on Monday, July 8, at 5:30 p.m.
The exam will be in the cafeteria of the Knox County Career Center, 306 Martinsburg Road.
Applications are available on the city’s website and in the safety-service director’s office at City Hall. The deadline to submit applications is Monday, July 1.
Below is more information about the position.
Other water/wastewater highlights:
•Brandon Tanners received his Class 2 operator’s license.
•Clarifier #1 is back in service. Workers will drain clarifier #2 and clean, sandblast, and paint it.
•The EPA-mandated phosphorus removal plan is in the design stage.
•The water treatment plant has two new employees and is up to full staff.
•In conjunction with Opportunity Knox, the city started its hydrant-painting program on June 17. Workers will start on the south end of town. Round two will be on July 1 and 10.
•The department restarted mapping its lead and copper lines. The EPA-mandated project is about 30% completed and must be done by Oct. 17.
•Robert Stribling was promoted to crew chief in the meters unit.
Engineering
Engineer Brian Ball said workers will launch the Dan Emmett neighborhood project on Monday. Ball said workers are talking with neighbors and leaving door hangers.
Work will start north of Belmont and move toward the school.
United Aggregates restarted hauling lime from the treatment plant on Old Delaware Road. Ball said the city is considering chip sealing the dirt road to stabilize it and control dust.
Other engineering highlights:
•Crews return to Stump and Northview streets this week to finish connecting five properties to the city’s sanitary system. Once the city makes the connection, it will fill in the trenches and pave. Manhole adjustment will occur in conjunction with completing the Buckeye Addition and Grange Avenue work.
•The brick reconstruction on Catherine Street is on schedule. All of the properties are back on the city’s main utility systems.
•The city awaits final inspection on the Sandusky Street sidewalk project, which came in $13,000 under budget.
•City officials are working with the Knox County Land Bank to replace water lines inside Heartland Commerce Park. Work will ultimately extend to Pleasant Street.
