MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon Public Works Director Tom Hinkle said the high winds that rolled in on Friday created “all kinds of destruction.”
“There were a lot of trees down, but there were 16 trees down that were blocking roads,” he said. “These trees were literally laying down across roads where you couldn’t have access through the road or to certain areas of that neighborhood.”
Several power lines came down with the trees. Hinkle said that any time power lines are involved, his staff will not remove the tree until AEP has been notified.
Hinkle said many residents report that downed lines are not power lines.
“At times, especially when it gets dark, it’s hard to determine, but even though a tree is only on fiber or phone lines, it does not mean that those lines may not be energized,” he said.
Once AEP determines it’s safe, crews remove the trees, starting with the main arterial streets.
“Our priority is to open the streets. It’s not to clean everything up by any means. This is mainly for fire and EMS to be able to get to where they need to in case of an emergency,” he said.
“If it’s a tree that fell from a private property across one of our roadways or streets or alleys, our job is to clean up the roadway to get our right of way opened up where traffic can pass it there safely.”
Hinkle said city crews will not remove wood from people’s yards. If it is in the tree lawn or in a right-of-way, the city will clean up the whole thing.
Snapped utility poles and bagged traffic lights
Two snapped-off utility poles on Coshocton Avenue brought down fiber optic lines. Hinkle said crews initially restored westbound traffic, then one lane eastbound.
After about 90 minutes, traffic resumed in both directions.
The wind damaged several traffic lights. The light at the TSC intersection sustained the most damage and is a total loss.
“We had several traffic lights out with power. We have battery backups on these lights, but the batteries will only last for so long,” Hinkle said.
He said residents often assume if one light has power, others should, too. However, he said battery backups function differently, and lights aren’t on the same grid.
Crews did not bag the light at TSC because doing so indicates that traffic on Coshocton Avenue does not have to stop. Motorists should treat the intersection as a three-way stop until the light is repaired.
“We did put up a stop sign on the TSC exit to make sure that everybody leaving those businesses there has to stop before they can proceed onto Coshocton Avenue,” Hinkle said.
Fire personnel were also busy during the windstorm, responding to 47 calls.
Fire Chief Chad Christopher said the department had a few EMS calls, but the majority were fire-related. Crews had some difficulty navigating the roadways due to blocked roads.
The majority were calls to assess downed sparking power lines. Personnel also responded to a few grass fires caused by downed power lines, and to a couple of reports of trees on houses. There were no injuries or major needs.
The department handled all of the calls within its coverage area during the storm. However, the Eastern Knox County Joint Fire District assisted with a car crash.
Ohio weather is unpredictable
Additional storm damage includes damaged street signs, roofs, and shelter houses. The youth tennis courts at Memorial Park also sustained damage.
The city will hold a one-time debris cleanup from March 16 to 23. Residents can bring loose storm-related yard waste smaller than 4 inches in diameter to their tree lawn or curbside, and the city will collect it.
Residents can also take debris to the Thayer Road compost facility. However, because of the large volume from the storm, the facility is fairly full.
After the weekend wind storm, city crews were dealt a winter blow. Hinkle said three crew members came in around midnight on Monday to handle the snow. They worked through the night shift, then their regular day shift.
At the same time, the city is preparing for spring cleanup in the cemeteries. Residents must remove fall and winter decorations before April 1.
A list of cemetery rules is available on the city’s website or at the office, which has relocated to the new municipal center at 236 S. Main St.
Residents can call 740-393-9581 for cemetery information or to make an appointment to visit a grave site.
Also on the website is a new lookup feature that lets residents search for a grave. A drop-down menu lets you search specifically within the mausoleum, Mound View, or Mount Calvary.
The city plans to add cemetery maps to the website soon.
Public utilities
Public Utilities Director Aaron Reinhart reported that the EPA-mandated phosphorus-reduction upgrade is about 50 percent designed. He plans to have it 70 percent completed by the end of June so he can submit it to the EPA for a permit to install.
Workers at the wastewater treatment plant are preparing for chlorination season, which runs May 1 through Oct. 31.
“We put the chlorine in to kill the pathogens, and then we dechlorinate to take the chlorine out before it goes into the scenic Kokosing,” he explained.
The water treatment plant lost power, and employees had trouble starting the generator; otherwise, it weathered the recent storm well.
Residents who let their faucets drip during the cold spell must request their freeze credit by April 15. Forms are available online and at the billing office.
Reinhart reminded residents that water and wastewater rates will increase with the April bill.
Water will increase by $1.75 for the minimum bill; wastewater will increase by $3.29 per minimum bill.
Miscellaneous city news
•Crews are busy renovating offices and city council chambers in the municipal center. Hinkle anticipates holding the first city council meeting in the new chambers on April 13.
•Administration officials will open bids for interior renovations on March 26.
•Workers replaced some heat pumps in the Plaza Building and are tidying up City Hall to make it accessible for the courthouse project.
•Park restrooms should open on April 1.
•The next Washington Forum is set for March 31 at 6 p.m. at The Gathering Place, 425 S. Edgewood Road. Panelists include Athens Mayor Steve Patterson, former Gov. Ted Strickland, and former U.S. Congressman Bob Gibbs.