MOUNT VERNON — The city has decided to keep two parking lots on South Gay Street formerly used by the Mount Vernon News.
In April, Mount Vernon City Council voted to transfer the lots to the Knox County Land Bank to support downtown revitalization.
The city bought the parcels for $1 each in 1970, which equates to $8.11 in today’s monetary value. The land bank was to buy the lots for $8.50 per parcel.
“With the city restacking our projects and considering moving to COTC and different things, we are going to keep those parking lots as a city property,” city engineer Brian Ball said.
Ball said Safety-Service Director Tanner Salyers and Land Bank President Sam Filkins made the decision.
“The city is doing improvements to the parking lots. There will be some contractual arrangements, and the land bank will help with the project,” he said.
Ball said crews are installing a stormwater infiltration system, replacing the asphalt portion of Spice Alley, and leveling the brick portion of the alley.
“We want to get that project done ahead of the opening of the food hall,” Ball said.
Shared-use path
Crews have installed all concrete on the Mansfield Avenue shared-use path and are working on soil backfills, ditch grading, and temporary seeding.
The goal is to complete the project by Thanksgiving and return in the spring to address minor erosion issues and plant permanent seeding.
Ball said workers patched the holes in the road.
“Most of these patches are concrete. When we do our 2026 resurfacing bid, which we’re working on the budgeting right now, we will have Mansfield Avenue scheduled to be part of that package for asphalt resurfacing,” he said.
“If there are any corrective things, we’ll head back, but we don’t want to be out twisting and turning with backhoes and bobcats on fresh asphalt. So it’s a timing thing.”
AEP transmission overhaul
Although the gates to Ariel-Foundation Park are closed for the winter, the gate to West Foundation Park might be open for an American Electric Power transmission overhaul.
However, Ball said, “That is not an invitation to go in there.”
The overhaul starts around 80 Pittsburgh Avenue and runs through West Foundation Park to the river to Arch Park. AEP will then go along Main Street to the substation on McKenzie Street.
“We’ve been partnering with AEP on updating easements and getting everything together for them,” Ball said.
CDBG projects
Ball said the administration will discuss its community development block grant (CDBG) projects at Monday’s council meeting.
Projects include going out to bid for four blocks on Burgess and Hamtramck streets from Main to Sandusky and the Riverside Park neighborhood project (pickleball, stormwater, roads, drainage).
Other engineering projects include:
•Soil testing at the new salt barn site to ensure a good foundation
•Columbia Gas is doing a main and service line replacement project in the city’s south end, centered on Martinsburg Road.
•The city received the 100% schematic design for the new Sychar Road police station on Friday. Teams are reviewing it; the next step is to work on construction documents with the CMAR, Kokosing Construction.
•Crews milled the northbound section of South Main Street that crosses the viaduct that has telecom conduits underneath. The area was sustaining potholing and rapid deterioration, but it is now ready for cold weather.
Public Works
Street department crews completed three rounds of leaf pickup, accounting for about 100 loads. Public Works Director Tom Hinkle said crews will continue through this week up to next Wednesday, weather permitting.
However, he noted it is nearing the time when workers must remove leaf equipment and install snow equipment on some of the trucks.
“We will continue to pick up leaves after Thanksgiving weekend. We just won’t be at the same capacity,” he said.
He reminded residents that they can drop off leaves at the Thayer Road compost facility.
Other street department news:
•The city contracted to buy up to 1,500 tons of salt and received the first 300.
•Crews started construction on the new salt barn. “This will give us the ability to manage the salt purchasing, how we’re able to order it, and more or less just be able to stockpile more salt at one time,” the director said.
•Workers are prepping Public Square for the holiday parade and tree lighting ceremony.
Parks
In the parks department, workers will start putting up holiday decorations next week.
They removed dumpsters and porta johns, and winterized and closed the restrooms. One restroom in Riverside Park near the splash pad will remain open until 7 p.m., as will the restrooms at Harmony Park.
Workers are also starting a preventive maintenance project in the Hiawatha Water Park pump room. Work consists of examining each motor and pump for leaks and checking seals, bearings, and other components.
Cemetery
Cemetery workers place flags in the cemetery for Memorial Day and remove them throughout the year as they deteriorate.
Although the city does not replace the flags it removes, families may do so. They can use flags available in the cemetery office or purchase their own.
Cemetery staff are also prepping for winter, mulching leaves, draining water lines, and starting equipment maintenance.
Public Buildings & Lands
PB&L workers shut down the fountain on Public Square for the winter and are inspecting furnaces and filters to ensure buildings are ready for winter.
Hinkle said a PB&L customer support specialist applied for a grant to help offset the training and certifications workers undergo.
“We received a, a $7,000 grant from the Ohio Workforce Development, and we’ve applied those funds to help pay for some of that training,” he said.
Public utilities
Keeping with the winterizing theme, Public Utilities Director Aaron Reinhart reminded residents to unhook garden hoses, insulate pipes that might have issues, and check heat tapes to ensure everything is working.
The city is in contract with Kokosing Industrial to serve as a CMAR (construction manager at risk) for the wastewater treatment plant.
“We’re at 30% [design] now, and we’ll be moving forward with design to 60%,” Reinhart said.