MOUNT VERNON — A three-way partnership could bring city water to Crystal Avenue residents.
Clinton Township passed a resolution supporting a co-application with the city to apply for Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) money to run a new water main to the street.
The Knox County Board of Commissioners agreed to take the lead on securing a Community Development Block Grant for the project.
On Monday night, city council members gave a second reading to legislation supporting the joint city-township application.
“So this would be two funding sources. You have state funding through OPWC and federal funding through the county. Our goal is to have a 5 to 10 percent cost share,” City Engineer Brian Ball said.
The city would cover its share through its water improvement fund. Money in the fund comes from the 40-percent surcharge that Clinton Township residents pay.
Ball said some Crystal Avenue households have tested positive for E. coli or other bacteria. Additionally, some spend $100 a month on a filtration system. However, they still cannot drink the water and ultimately buy it from the store.
“So it’s a pretty serious economic impact,” Ball said. “It’s stifling development; it’s costing people a lot of money to have fairly usable water.”
The water main costs about $1 million and would tie into the lines on Harcourt Road and Columbus Road.
It serves approximately 112 parcels, currently 46 households. Some of the lots are undeveloped; others have two lots to one house.
About 28 are owner-occupied.
“That’s important for the community development block grant funding because those are the folks that could apply to get their water connections put into their house,” Ball told council.
Crystal Avenue residents have wells and septic systems and can already access public sewer. Ball believes all have connected.
Part of a city water master plan
Residents are not required to tap in once city water is available.
If the city classifies the line as a transmission main, residents do not have to pay service availability fees.
“The computer model supports this being a transmission main,” Ball said. “We have a need for a water tower in the south end of town. Putting this line in would enhance the service to our southern industrial park.”
Assuming the OPWC and CDBG grants are approved, the administration would return to council asking for authorization to bid and award a construction contract.
Ball said the city will work with the township on additional details, such as resurfacing the road.
“Right now the road’s in pretty good condition, but if we get these funding sources, we have two years to complete the project,” he noted.
The city and township have a water system master plan for the neighborhood. The city’s contract with the township sewer and water board calls for extending water to the area.
Ball said the Crystal Avenue water main creates a backbone from which the city could extend water north and south.
“We have those plans developed, but, like a Johnny Cash Cadillac, we fund it ‘one piece at a time,’” he said.
“The plan is to eventually extend water to everyone in this area, but this is trying to buy it as the grants are available and as we can afford it.”
Other legislative action
Council members suspended the third reading and adopted legislation authorizing the safety-service director to bid and contract for demolishing buildings along South Sandusky Street.
The demolition is part of the State Route 13 realignment project. Ball expects construction to start June 15, 2026, and be completed by Nov. 30, 2027.
Council members waived the three readings and accepted the Tax Incentive Review Commission’s (TIRC) recommendations regarding the city’s abatements.
Area Development Foundation President Sam Filkins said all three exceeded their metrics on payroll, job creation, and investment:
•Woodward Development Corp., CRA
•Danberry Senior Living, Enterprise Zone
•Woodward Landlord LLC, Enterprise Zone
Council members took the following additional actions:
•Authorized on the first reading renewing an ODOT contract for snow/ice removal and repair/maintenance within the city, disposing of police vehicles, and reappointing Jason Hall and Sam Filkins to the city’s New Community Authority, and transferring funds
•Gave a first reading to legislation renewing the city’s electric aggregation program, authorizing the safety-service director to apply for OPWC funds for a Phase 1 west end sanitary sewer project, adopting a cybersecurity policy, and setting the salary for council president and council members
•Approved on third reading an ordinance to vacate an alley at Oak and East Vine streets
•Removed a resolution to approve a Then and Now payment
Public participation
Mallory DuBois, Belmont Avenue, spoke about drivers speeding on the street.
“It has become a racetrack. Any motor vehicle, even business vehicles, race up and down that street,” she said. “We have children that walk up and down that street going to and fron Dan Emmett school. We have children that play in the neighborhood.”
She said drivers disregard the 25 mph speed limit and asked the city to consider speed bumps or other ways to slow down the traffic.
