MOUNT VERNON — Concerns about free rent without providing a service to the community prompted Mount Vernon City Councilman Mike Miller to meet with the organizations renting the CA&C Depot and B&O Depot.
The Area Development Foundation occupies the B&O Depot.
The Knox County Chamber of Commerce and Knox County Convention and Visitors Bureau share the CA&C Depot. A model railroad organization occupies the basement.
Miller was satisfied the ADF and CVB provide a service. However, he told city council members on Monday the city should formalize the arrangements with a lease.
The chamber held a lease through the Foundation Park Conservancy, which will sunset in 2026. The organization plans to move to 11 S. Mulberry St. this spring.
When the city created American Heritage Park last fall, the city removed the depot from the conservancy lease. Safety-service Director Tanner Salyers said the city is working on formalizing an agreement with the CVB.
However, it will be a one-year lease because the depot is part of the city’s Continuity of Operations Plan. If circumstances necessitate removing people from the Plaza Building, the law director’s office will relocate to the depot, displacing the CVB.
“Our vision for [the depot] is a welcome center, and the CVB is a natural partner to be in that,” Salyers said. “Also, it is a natural home for our recreation director as they share a mission.”
Salyers said that “in no way” is the city going to task the CVB with organizing or managing the city’s recreation programming. However, he said it would be a collaborative relationship.
CVB marketing manager Olivia Toth has provided graphic work for the city for Hiawatha Water Park and Liberty Plaza. Salyers said the city anticipates the CVB will provide more of that service in return for free rent.
The city agreed that the railroad club does not provide a service to the city.
Parks & Recreation
Updates on park and recreation took an hour of committee time during Monday’s city council meeting. The following are additional updates.
Splash Pad. Riverside Park’s splash pad (Captain Hunter’s Landing) is still on schedule. Crews are roofing the pump house and working on the interior. City Engineer Brian Ball and the financial donor are discussing a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“We feel comfortable we’re on track to be two days ahead of the required deadline,” Ball said.
Liberty Plaza. Salyers said the finishing touches on Liberty Plaza in Heritage Park include lighting, shrubbery, and swings. Additionally, workers will mount a plaque on the front of the statue recognizing Karen Buchwald Wright’s contribution and another on the back with “The New Colossus” poem by Emma Lazarus.
Planning continues to move the Veterans Memorial Walk from Public Square to Heritage Park. The city council budgeted for the project, which ties in with America-250 Ohio.
Assistant engineer Quentin Platt is redesigning the bricks’ layout. In the new layout, the bricks that families asked to be preserved together will remain beside each other.
Plans are to do the work in 2026.
Memorial Park. Salyers said the administration will shortly release a fact sheet outlining the park’s projects. These include separating utilities, demolishing some buildings, and making temporary arrangements for food trucks.
Salyers said those using the park this year will face some inconvenience, but the project should be completed in time for the start of baseball and softball season.
Pickleball courts at Riverside Park. The Community Development Building Grant the city received for its west-end revitalization project requires a park project. Improvements to the pickleball and basketball courts at Riverside Park fit the requirement. The completion date is Aug. 1, 2026.
Ariel-Foundation Park
When the lease with the Foundation Park Conservancy expires in 2026, the city will assume full responsibility for the park’s care and maintenance.
The conservancy will transition into a friends-of-the-park role. A $40,000 annual endowment will continue.
Park Manager Scott Zimmerman said upgrades are planned for the park’s 10-year anniversary.
Improvements are planned for the river of glass and reflecting pool, as well as repairs to the Schnormeier Event Center.
Columbus Delano Field of Discovery. Crews will smooth out the dirt piles in West Foundation Park once they thaw. City engineers are designing a path modeled on prior Native American paths.
The Foundation Park Conservancy plans to use that path to redesign its 5K trail through the pollinator and sunflower fields.
MVAC at Ariel-Foundation Park. Martin Booker, director of the Mount Vernon Arts Consortium, reviewed the 2025 event lineup for the park. Events include McGuffey Lane, Ricky Skaggs, sunset socials, and children’s programming.
Streets & Public Buildings
Council members approved engineering to bid and contract for the Mansfield Avenue side path. They also approved advertising for and awarding a contract for construction and inspection services through a Request for Qualifications process.
The path starts at Belmont Avenue. Between Belmont and Nuce, it is 10 feet wide. At Nuce, it changes to an 8-foot trail and returns to 10 feet at Faith Lutheran Church to Fairgrounds Road
From Belmont to Fairgrounds Road, the path is on the east side of Mansfield Avenue. It crosses to the west side at Fairgrounds Road via a rectangular red flashing beacon and continues to Grange Avenue.
The project includes a sidewalk from Belmont to the Nuce/Nash intersection.
A $1.5 million Ohio Department of Transportation grant will cover most of the $1.819 million cost. The city will pay the remainder.
Potential streets for 2025 resurfacing program
Chestnut Street, Clearview Drive, Compass Pointe, Eastwood Drive, Fearn Avenue, Highland Drive, Latitude Drive, Longitude Drive, Northridge Drive, Oakway Drive, Upper Gilchrist Road, Venture Drive, Vernonview Drive, W. Vine Street, Yauger Road, Cemetery parking lot, Mount Vernon News parking lot, and B&O Railroad parking lot.
The list is not finalized nor prioritized.
Street resurfacing
City council members authorized the safety-service director to bid and contract for the 2025 street resurfacing program.
The city has $500,000 appropriated for the program and an estimated $90,000 from the permissive gas tax.
It will also have some TIF (Tax Increment Financing) money available.
The cost of the 18 potential projects totals $1.95 million.
Councilman Mel Severns, chair of the Streets and Public Buildings Committee, will do a ride-along with street department workers on Thursday to help prioritize the projects.
