MOUNT VERNON – The Mount Vernon City Council gave its permission for the city’s Engineering Department to seek bids for the first phases of its Clintonville sewer and stormwater project, designed to cut the overflow at a nearby lift station.

(Clintonville refers to the Clinton Road drainage basin area.)

Phase 1, which involves Fearn Avenue lots, will cost an estimated $154,000. Phase two on Grange and Pearl avenues has a projected cost of $505,000.

“But I also wanted you to keep in mind that we do have the EPA mandate for the sanitary sewer overflow elimination, which is by September of 2023,” said Emily McKinley of EM Consulting, the city's consulting firm.

The city will install new sewer and stormwater lines and convert some old sanitary lines into stormwater lines. Phase one will involve rear yards of properties along Fearn Avenue. Phase two moves to rear yards of Grange Avenue and along Pearl Avenue.

In 2001, a consultant for the city studied the Clintonville area and found 44 major defects to the sewer system, including manholes and pipes.

“Sanitary sewer overflows are a major concern for the EPA because overflows, spills or releases of wastewater going into our Kokosing River can impact the health and safety of the local residents and habitat,” McKinley said.

Neighborhoods feel besieged by trucks, speeding motorists

The North Sandusky Street project, which has left a section of southbound State Route 13 closed for months, continues to cause problems for residents. Cut-through traffic has increased because some truckers ignore the eight detour signs leading up to the blocked lane.

“There is now damage to storm sewers. There is damage to property. There is traffic that is not stopping at stop signs. We had a road rage incident,” Kimberly Drive resident Craig Colopy told the council.

He said elderly and young residents can no longer walk along the streets since the neighborhood has no sidewalks.

“You have yet to present a written comprehensive plan to the residents of this area and the city as a whole [about] how you, the city, plan to address the numerous traffic issues, street damage (and) yard damage on the many residential streets caused by the Sandusky Street project,” Thomas Cassell of Miller Avenue said.

He said motorists aren’t being courteous, slowing down or driving safely.

“Five vehicles ran a stop sign in 20 minutes with me sitting there,” he said.

Another resident told him that in 15 minutes, 70 cars went through the intersection at Miller and Crestview, with only five stopping at the stop sign.

Safety-Service Director Rick Dzik said a traffic plan had been developed for the project, but it hasn’t worked. Since the project began, the city has been trying different methods to stop truck traffic.

Police Chief Robert Morgan said more than 40 traffic stops were made last week, with more expected this week. He said the city asked the Ohio Department of Transportation to bring flaggers to the project but suspects that won’t happen. More patrols are being scheduled, but those are limited by the department’s staffing.

The Police Department has prepared signs and posters indicating southbound State Route 13 is closed through Mount Vernon. The signs, specifying the detour route, will be shared with local companies and trucking firms.