The Mount Vernon City Council approved a contract with United Aggregates to continue hauling lime to farmers who want it.
The $150-an-hour contract was approved for up to $125,000 in total payments by the end of the year.
The contractor will continue with emergency loading, hauling, maintenance, and restoration of the temporary lime residual relocation site at the city’s Water Department, according to legislation that was approved during a special City Council meeting on Dec. 5.
“What has changed is this – that additional farmers have contacted our agronomist as well as the people who are hauling for us, saying that they'd be willing to take lime,” Rob Broeren, law director, told City Council. “The ground is still solid enough that we could move it, and if we keep moving lime now it will help us with the appeal that we are working on with the Ohio EPA because eventually, it will have to get moved.”
Whatever gets moved now helps the city with additional deadlines from the Ohio EPA that the city is appealing, Broeren said.
“So, right now, we're just trying to get ahead of these deadlines before we had the hearing to determine whether they're going to be able to enforce the deadline or not,” he said.
Mayor Matt Starr confirmed that the city met the deadline for how many tons of lime should be removed by the end of the month. City officials hope to meet the March 2023 deadline by the end of December, as well.
“Farmers have reached out and said they’re going to take it, and the contractor tells us we can still move it," Broeren said. "We're asking for this money now.”
Councilmember Mike Hillier wants to see a change in the contracting for next year or when rainy weather prevents additional lime removal.
“The only way we're doing this now is because we said it’s an emergency," he said. "We’ve got to get it done. And we don't have to bid. I would like to see if this thing slows down, [and] we bid it when we’re paying that kind of money.”
Broeren said that is the intention.
Auditor Terry Scott said that any of the funds approved but not spent will be put back in the city treasury after the end of the year to be reallocated.
Councilmember Tammy Woods' motion to advance the legislation to its final reading was approved, as was the contract.
"This will be to approve $125,000 for work to be completed by Dec. 31," she said after making the motion. "I think we've discussed going forward [that] there'll be some going out to bid or looking at pricing on this."
Bond sales will fund fire truck, ambulance purchases
The city will sell up to $1.14 million in bonds to fund the purchase of a fire truck and ambulance for the fire department; they will replace older vehicles.
Scott said the city would, in effect, borrow from its reserves and would repay itself during the term of the bonds. He said the city should be able to use revenue from EMS billing to pay off the debt. That billing is expected to reach $1.6 million in 2022. The estimated annual payments would be $138,000, he said. The city could pay the debt faster. The city will not use a tax levy to pay the debt, Scott said.
Broeren said Fire Chief Chad Christopher spoke with the vendor and was able to keep a $57,000 discount. A contract did not have to be signed before the City Council approved the bond sale and purchase of the vehicles during Monday’s meeting.
The City Council approved the purchase of the vehicles and the bond issuance on Monday.
