MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis said he is concerned about the all-terrain vehicle riders that have been seen riding illegally in and around the Kokosing River at the dike ways at the far west end of High Street recently, and the risk of damage they pose to city property.
Mavis said Mount Vernon Parks Department Superintendent Geoff Oliver has seen people on ATV’s riding out of the river recently, because the level of the river is especially low right now.
“There’s also evidence that they are riding over in Foundation Park and the dike ways along the Kokosing and different areas,” Mavis said Friday.
“They wear out the grass, the trails get eroded and it does damage to the dike way,” the mayor explained.
“I have talked to (Mount Vernon Police) Chief Mike Merrilees, and he has alerted his people to be on the lookout,” Mavis added.
The mayor said there is a city ordinance outlawing ATV use in that area, which the MVPD enforces.
The mayor also had news to share with residents about the historical drinking fountain at Riverside Park, which was removed last year to be restored. Mavis said residents regularly ask him when the fountain will be back in use at the park.
“We thought we’d have it done earlier, but now we do have a contractor that’s going to work on it next week,” Mavis said. “So it’s going to be completed this year, but it will be late in the year, so it will be put into service next year.”
The mayor said advertising for bidding on the city’s brick street project will begin next week; the bids would be opened in late October, and the work on the streets would begin soon after.
Mavis and Mount Vernon Safety-Service Director Dave Glass paid a visit during a Mount Vernon Fire Department training exercise to the old Hiawatha School which will be demolished soon to make way for the construction of a new fire station.
