MOUNT VERNON — Work has begun on improvements to the ball fields at Memorial Park.
Public Works Director Tom Hinkle said crews removed the three concession/announcer stands.
The city is designing new stands for the Babe Ruth field and the three softball fields. Softball Field #1 will also get a new scoreboard.
Crews are reshaping the Babe Ruth field to bring it into proper elevation, although the orientation will not change.
“We have provided utilities for our leagues to use this year … so they can run the scoreboards and use a radio or microphone or whatever kind of system they may want to use Hinkle said.
“I’m pretty confident that they’ll have the the ball field back together in enough time for them to start their season.”
The leagues will also be able to offer concessions.
In other park news, the Harmony Playground bathroom in Memorial Park is open. The doors automatically unlock and lock when the park is open. Starting April 1, they will open at 6 a.m. and lock at 11 p.m.
Other park restrooms should open at the end of the month.
Engineering
Assistant City Engineer Quentin Platt said the splash pad at Riverside Park is scheduled to open when Hiawatha Water Park opens in May.
A ribbon cutting is set for Tuesday, May 20, at 2 p.m.
•The joint city-county Fairgrounds Road utilities project is under construction. Platt reminded residents the road is open to local and emergency traffic but not through traffic. It will also open during the Knox County Fair.
•The city will advertise for bids on the Mansfield Avenue shared-use path in April.
•The city resumed its elevation surveys in the west end to determine houses that might be eligible to have their flood insurance removed.
•Workers resumed the service line inventory for more than 8,000 residences and businesses. The project involves visually inspecting the public and private sides of the line, identifying the meter type, and documenting the meters’ geolocation. Residents should receive a letter about the project in the next few days.
•Clearing of woody vegetation on the levee should start later this month or early April.
Parks and recreation
Recreation Director Jeff Derr said the 2025 season information for Hiawatha Water Park will come out soon.
“The opening date will be May 24. The closing date should be around Aug. 23,” he said.
“The closing date is subject to the local school calendar when students return. Staffing levels always come into play there, too.”
Citizens can book park picnic shelters on the city’s website, which is still mountvernonohio.org.
The city will soon change to a new domain: mtvernonoh.gov. However, the current domain will roll over to the new one.
Water and wastewater
The city will host a continuing education training session for the Ohio Rural Water Association on Thursday.
“We’d like to have these pretty routinely,” Public Utilities Director Aaron Reinhart said. “This is a good area where we can pull in a lot of small towns, and helps defray the cost of these smaller villages and towns sending their operators to Columbus.”
•Residents will see a flyer explaining backflow prevention in their next water bill. The Ohio EPA requires the city to provide the information annually.
•Crews will be on East Vine Street between South Center and Potwin streets this week, checking utilities in preparation for the city’s sidewalk project. If any lines are galvanized, the city will replace them before the sidewalk project starts.
Streets
The city recorded the second accident to the pedestrian pole in two months at the intersection of East Chestnut and North Main streets. An eastbound tractor-trailer on Chestnut ran over the pole, turning south on North Main.
“Before we could even get the parts to fix the first one — we had made a temporary repair with some used parts so we could have the intersection continue to function properly — and this one comes along and tears that down,” Hinkle said.
“But, thank goodness, we just got the new parts in and put it back together, and we got the intersection back up.”
Hinkle said the department receives many calls about alleys rutting due to the thaw and refreeze this time of year.
“It’s still not a great time to deal with that. We have to make sure that it stiffens up a little bit before we can even think about grading alleys,” he explained.
Residents can call 740-393-9501 to report a deep hole, rut, or pothole. The city will patch it with aggregate until crews can make a more permanent repair.
•Stormwater projects include replacing two laterals on West Vine Street, replacing a tile section on Merita between Verndale and Teryl, and replacing 120 feet of stormwater pipe on East Chestnut Street near Center Run
•Crews inspected more than 180 of the city’s 1,800 catch basins (excluding those in alleys or on private and commercial properties) last year. Hinkle said the city is noting areas that need to be repaired or rebuilt.
•Workers completed the annual stop-sign inspection and replaced 20 of the 720 in the city.
Public buildings & land
Hinkle said the city is taking applications for seasonal workers in the parks, cemetery, and street departments. The starting wage is $15 per hour with a cap of $20.
Applicants can fill out an application online or at City Hall.
•Remodeling projects include the auditor and former code enforcement offices and converting a records room into an office for the city inspector
•Inspecting rental buildings for damage, fire hazards, or flooding
•Repairing the building at the impound lot
•Prepping for mowing season at the cemetery; the annual spring cleanup will start April 1
Administration
•Tire Recycling Day: Saturday, March 29, at the fairgrounds from 8 a.m. to noon or until the trailers are filled
•Jerry and Joy Clinger easter egg hunt: Saturday, April 12, starting at 10 a.m.
•Yard Sale Trail: April 26 and 27
•Community Cleanup Day: May 3 at Ariel Foundation Park
The final listening session for the municipal buildings project is moving from Thursday to Tuesday, March 25, at City Hall from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The comment period and online survey will remain open for 30 days after the 25th.
