Mount Vernon took delivery of its long-awaited 2020 International dump truck last week, which included a snow and ice package.
The city spent a little more than $165,000 on the 2½-ton truck and equipment. Other trucks have exceeded their lifespan, making this truck a necessity.
“We needed this one and we’re excited to get this one out on the road,” Mayor Matt Starr said.
City crews have been trimming trees around town. This becomes necessary each winter as snow weighs down tree limbs that hang over the road and then damage snowplows as they drive past.
Employees from departments other than the Street Department are getting trained in how to plow snow and use city equipment including this new truck. Starr said it will save the city in overtime costs by having more trained drivers. A larger crew enables the rotation of drivers performing plowing duties so one driver doesn’t have a 12-hour shift. This will improve safety, which he called a more important consideration.
The Street Department received an order of street- and traffic signs and has begun replacing and installing them around town. Apparently, some signs are stolen each year.
The department also had a retirement. Doug “Mark” Burson retired after spending seven years with the Street Department.
“He really was our go-to catch basin guy,” Starr said. “He knew everything there is to know about catch basins, and so we’re going to miss him.”
Utilities Department
The City’s education efforts stepped up with the release of another video podcast on wastewater projects proposed for 2021. The video explains what the City hopes to do this year if City Council approves the budget to cover the costs and a proposed rate hike gets approved.
City Council will hold an appropriations discussion on Saturday, Jan. 23, via Zoom, with a link posted on the City’s website (mountvernonohio.org).
Additional information has been posted on the City’s website (mountvernonohio.org/wastewater), including the anaerobic digestion needs assessment performed in 2017, engineering updates provided to City Council and frequently asked questions.
The City held a public meeting on Jan. 19 to offer local residents and customers an opportunity to learn more about the wastewater system and proposed rate hikes.
Volunteer boards and commission
Starr said he completed interviews with key stakeholders in the city as he works to create an onboarding system for volunteers on the City’s boards and commission. From those interviews a 20-question online survey was developed. The survey will be shared with the volunteers on Jan. 19. Data from the surveys will be presented to City Council.
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