MVFD hires two firefighters
The Mount Vernon Fire Department hired two full-time firefighters, bringing them both up from the ranks of part-time jobs.
Mason DeChant and Hunter McVay are the newest full-time firefighter/paramedics, Fire Chief Chad Christopher said. McVay will begin medic school in the fall, with DeChant starting his classes in 2023.
Lime-cleaning project
As the city launches a lime-cleaning project in its west-side lagoons, the park-and-ride lot at the merger of Harcourt Road to state Route 229 and West High Street has been closed.
As a result, the city has removed the recycling bins from the park-and-ride lot.
Dzik said the city is finalizing an agreement with a contractor, and work is expected to begin this month.
“One thing that we want to get the word out on is to spread the news to local farmers that might be interested in free lime,” Mayor Matt Starr said. “[They should] contact the city's utility billing office.”
The number for that office is 740-393-9558.
“As long as they can arrange to get it from Point A to Point B, they can pretty much have, I think, as much as they want,” he said.
Water shutoff policy changes
The city has changed its water shutoff policy, giving its customers more time to pay their water bills before their water is shut off. A mailer will be sent out with the next round of bills to explain it.
“But basically, they will have another billing cycle,” Safety Service Director Richard Dzik said.
If a customer gets a bill on the first of the month but doesn’t pay it by the 15th of the month, that person will get a shutoff notice. It used to be turned off by the end of the month. But now the customer will have until the 15th of the following month.
“The resident will obviously see a past due balance on their bill for the next month and then have until that bill is due at that point,” he said.
Utility crews are busy restoring aged water and sewer lines in several projects throughout the city. “Please give our crews a ‘brake,’" the department said.
Billing office worker needed
Applications will be accepted until May 9 for a part-time clerk in the Water and Wastewater Department, Dzik said. The job is within the water billing office.
A civil service exam will be held for the position.
The clerk position is basically an office manager level position, Dzik said.
“For this position in particular, the work is in the water billing office processing payments, handling customer questions. They'll also take calls oftentimes for water problems throughout the city,” he said.
Parks and pools prepared
The safety-service director said he saw a lot of work in the pool as staff gets it ready for opening at the end of May.
“Basically, what they've been doing is the competition pool has been cleaned and painted. And then they will be cleaning and painting the leisure pool on Monday,” he said on Friday.
The city continues to work on getting the word out that it needs more lifeguards.
“The pool manager is very flexible with the needs that they have, whether it be sporting needs or other things like that,” he said.
The lifeguards are expected to work part-time hours, with an opportunity to get more hours if the need is there.
