MOUNT VERNON – Motorists can expect some disruption in traffic driving through the South Main-Columbus Road intersection as crews will be removing an underground fuel tank beginning Wednesday.
City Engineer Brian Ball said Terracon has secured the required permits and will be scheduled to begin work removing the underground fuel tank discovered at the Columbus Road intersection. It's going to start removing that on Wednesday, May 18, Mayor Matt Starr told the Mount Vernon News.
“That will affect traffic, but it's got to be removed, so we're just going to have to live through the pain a little bit,” he said.
The tank removal is at a pinch point for traffic, “Right there at the viaduct where we've got people needing to turn right and go straight and turn left. Anyway, just another it's another pain measure we’ve got to go through, but we'll get through it and that'll be good,” Starr said.
Fire Department
The Mount Vernon Fire Department swore in two officers who were promoted and two new full-time firefighter/paramedics on Thursday.
Joshua Lester was sworn in as a new captain, according to the Fire Department. He has been with the department for 15 years. During that time, he worked his way up through the ranks, becoming a lieutenant in 2018 and serving as the EMS coordinator/training officer.
Another veteran employee, Benjamin Harrod, was promoted to lieutenant after 10 years of service. In addition to the promotion, he is now the new EMS coordinator/training officer.
Hunter McVay and Mason DeChant both joined the Mount Vernon Fire Department in August 2021 as part-time firefighters. They were sworn in last week as full-time firefighters/paramedics with the department.
Street Department
The Street Department put out about 40 tons of asphalt last week, with a focus on the water digs and the alleys.
The city kept to its street-sweeping schedule last week but will skip it this week. What crews will be doing, “God willing and weather willing,” Starr said, is grading the gravel alleys along with continuing in the asphalt alleys.
“Hopefully, that will get some cooperation from Mother Nature there,” he said.
The drainage project on Prospect Street is almost complete. Crews installed a catch basin and 40 feet of pipe to manage the stormwater, Starr said.
Parks
The terraces at Ariel-Foundation Park have been mowed with the city’s new venTrac mowing arm, which was purchased with capital improvement funds this year.
Electricity has been restored at the new storage shed at Riverside Park, now ready to be used. New benches have been installed in the dugouts at the park. Its fountain has been cleaned and painted and will be filled with water this week.
Police department
The first PAK United police and kids’ event was Thursday night at the Woodward Opera House. There was pizza and a movie, and the movie was "Shrek 2." School Resource Officer Jeremiah Armstrong and the department’s therapy dog joined quite a few kids for the event, Starr said.
The next PAK United event will be Frisbee golf on Saturday, June 4, at Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
Municipal Planning Commission
On Thursday, the Mount Vernon Municipal Planning Commission approved the final plat for the Schlabach development for that phase so they can start getting the roads and the infrastructure put in so they can start selling.
