The Mount Vernon City Council has approved a contract to rehabilitate and improve a section of Edgewood Road, despite opposition from numerous residents. The contract was awarded to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).

According to minutes from the Mount Vernon City Council's March 25 meeting, the Edgewood Road work was narrowly passed with a 4-3 vote. Following Councilmember Mel Severns' motion for approval, Mike Miller, James Mahan, and Jason Ruckman also voted in favor of the resolution. However, Councilmembers Janis Seavolt, Tammy Woods, and Amber Keener opposed it.

During the public comment segment of the meeting, nine individuals voiced their opposition to the project. Conversely, three people expressed support for the Edgewood Road work. Tanner Salyers, Safety-Service Director, said that there will be additional opportunities for public input during the lengthy process of rehabilitating the road.

A special meeting was convened on March 6 to allow public comment on the project. According to minutes from this meeting, 19 residents spoke out against it citing increased traffic, potential danger for pedestrians, decreased property values and lack of sufficient information about the project as their main concerns. Other residents felt that infrastructure improvements were necessary and speculated that some homes might need to be removed to complete the project. A bypass was suggested by several residents as an alternative solution.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $3.14 million according to data from the March 25 city council meeting agenda. ODOT will cover 80% of these costs using federal funding for engineering, design and right-of-way phases up to $650,000. Additionally, it will provide 95% of eligible costs for construction up to $2 million.