Excavation begins on North Sandusky Street water line project

Excavation began on Jan. 11 for Mount Vernon’s North Sandusky Street water line project.

An eight-inch water line will be installed from Franklin Street north past Northview Drive.

Crews shut down North Sandusky from Belmont Avenue and Pleasant Street to connect the new water line, Mayor Matt Starr said. Customers in that area will be under a boil water advisory.

During construction, the southbound lane on North Sandusky Street will be closed. Traffic will be maintained using portable traffic lights. The southbound lane will reopen at the end of each day.

Construction is expected to last 40 days.

Parks Department

The Parks Department removed Christmas lights from around the public square. Crews are working on maintenance of the tractors used at Ariel-Foundation Park and trucks used in city parks.

Streets Department

Winter storms brought five drivers out to city streets on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. They used approximately 40 tons of salt to keep roads from icing.

Repairs were made to the South Main Street viaduct. A temporary patch was made in the northbound lane until the Ohio Utilities Protection Services showed utility locations.

“And then we were able to take care of all the deterioration with concrete,” Starr said.

The department is performing its annual stop sign inspections. Any stop sign that no longer has its reflective coating or has graffiti will be replaced.

City residents can call the Street Department to report potholes at 740-393-9501.

Public Buildings, Lands and Cemetery

The assistant director of Public Buildings, Lands and Cemetery met with municipal court Judge Batcher to discuss walls that the court needs on the third floor.

Jobs

Mount Vernon has two job postings made both in-house and externally. The city seeks a second public utilities assistant director and a maintenance worker position in the department.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day virtual celebration

The 18th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration service will be at 10 a.m. on Jan. 18; with the Rev. Rachel Kessler, who serves as both priest-in-charge of Harcourt Parish and chaplain at Kenyon College; as the speaker.

Those who wish to participate should email odei@kenyon.edu or interculturallife@mvnu.edu.

Cooper Progress Park

Staff at Cooper Progress Park provided tours to 35 business leaders, a Mount Vernon City Council member, a representative from Rep. Bob Gibbs' (R-Ohio) office and Rep. Rick Carfagna (R-Genoa Township). The 47-acre urban industrial park is home to over 670,000 square feet of manufacturing, warehouse and office space all under roof.