MOUNT VERNON – City residents can offer their opinions about Mount Vernon’s plan to seek almost $2 million in grants that would fund four community improvement projects around the city.
A public hearing will be held at 10 a.m. on June 9 in Council Chambers at City Hall, 40 Public Square, to discuss the projects chosen for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applications. The city must submit its four applications by June 15 to the Ohio Department of Development.
The four projects would cost approximately $5.6 million to complete over the next two years. City funds would make up the difference from the $1.978 million in CDBG grants sought, with the Ariel Foundation also providing funding for one project.
The city proposed a $2.489 million project in the Fourth Ward/Dan Emmett School and Park neighborhood. A $750,000 CDBG grant, if approved, would be added to $275,000 from the Ariel Foundation and $1.464 million in funds budgeted in the water, sewer, storm sewer and paving budgets would be used for the work.
The proposed project includes the complete reconstruction of Nuce and Marma drives. Sidewalks, curbs, gutters, storm sewers and paving are included. In addition, Northgate Drive would get new sidewalks, and new flashing crosswalks would be installed on Nuce and Mansfield roads.
The school and park area would get substantial storm drainage improvements, as would the area across Mansfield Avenue toward North Sandusky Street.
The playground would get a new asphalt surface, playground equipment and parking upgrades, plus safety barriers along Nuce Road would be installed.
The project would be supplemented by volunteer projects planned by the Faith Lutheran Church, Dan Emmett School and the Mount Vernon Shade Tree and Beautification Commission.
A seriously deteriorated street that poses safety issues would be reconstructed if a second CDBG grant was approved. The $1.672 million project to reconstruct North Catherine Street between East Vine Street and Coshocton Avenue would include a $500,000 CDBG grant, if it is approved. The rest would come from city funding.
The third CDBG grant application seeks another $500,000 to install water and sanitary sewer on Stump and Northview drives. The $1.169 million project should deal with raw sewage issues along North Sandusky Street in the residential neighborhood, the city said.
Also on North Sandusky Street, the fourth and final project would complete sidewalks on the west side of the street between Franklin and Burgess streets. A $150,000 CDBG grant would be matched with $119,546 in city funds.
