MOUNT VERNON – As the City Council just authorized the summer worker program at its meeting on Monday, city departments are behind on filling those positions and have jobs available.
City Engineer Brian Ball said his department accepted resumes and vetted candidates for the summer positions, but those candidates already have other jobs.
“So we are open for summer workers,” he said.
He’s looking for people to work on data collection. The positions will involve fieldwork and office work. The Parks Department is looking for workers to help with mowing, Ball said.
“There are some firefighter openings for inspectors, firefighters to do building safety inspections and other things,” he said.
Interested applicants should contact the city’s Human Resources Department. Applications can be found at mountvernonohio.org/careers/.
The City Council also set hourly rates for season personnel as follows:
Parks, Streets, Cemetery and Water/Wastewater departments – Year 1, $13/hour; year 2-plus, $13.50/hour; crew leader, $14/hour.
Engineering Department – Year 1, $15/hour; year 2-plus, $15.50/hour; Crew leader, $16/hour.
Fire Department – Year 1, $13/hour; year 2-plus, $14/hour.
Part-time rates were set from $16/hour for a firefighter/EMT-B to $18/hour for a firefighter EMT-P. A fire inspector’s rate was set at $17/hour.
A part-time parking enforcement officer’s hourly rate was set at $15.
Pool passes health inspection, ready to open
The pool at Hiawatha Water Park recently passed its final health inspection and will open today, May 27.
Public Works Director Tom Hinkle said the Parks Department had the pool ready for the city’s operator, Columbus Pool Management, to begin summer operations.
Pavilion rentals at the city’s parks have been very popular, he said in notes on the Parks Department.
“We offer reservations for Memorial, Hiawatha and both pavilions at Riverside free of charge," Hinkle said. "If citizens are planning a birthday party or get-together, they should call the Parks Department first and check availability."
The phone number to call is 740-393-9501.
Rubber mulch has been added for the new swing sets installed at the parks. Mowing and emptying trash takes up much of the department’s time.
Street Department installs new historic sign
Safety-Service Director Rick Dzik said the Street Department installed a new historic sign on Ohio Avenue commemorating the Wayman Chapel. An unveiling ceremony will be scheduled.
Pothole patching and water dig restoration continue. Crews also repaired a sinkhole on South West Street. As one of the city’s brick streets, that made the repairs relatively complicated, he said.
Right-of-way mowing, alley grading and graveling also have been done by Street Department crews. They also bermed Division Street, and preparations were made for the city’s Memorial Day Parade.
Engineering holds pre-construction meetings
The Engineering Department has held several preconstruction meetings on city projects, City Engineer Brian Ball said.
A week ago, the Catherine Street Community Development Block Grant project was discussed in a preconstruction meeting. Ball said they anticipate launching that project in Spring 2024. It depends on materials and contractor availability.
Another preconstruction meeting dealt with sidewalks along North Sandusky Street from Franklin to Burgess streets. That project is set to launch in July or August and Ball said it should be completed in a month and a half.
The third preconstruction meeting was held for the citywide stormwater concrete project. Details are still being finalized. The majority of it should be completed this year, he said. A portion of the project within Memorial Park will have to be done next year.
“We’re working on the first handicap-accessible, year-round park restroom at Memorial Park,” Ball said.
That project will have a 52-week lead time to get the state to approve the plans, he said.
The Stump and Northview project should go out to bid soon.
“We’re going to need a little boost because this is not the best time to go out and bid on a major water wastewater project," Ball said. "But we’re restricted by the state fiscal year on this."
The project will replace the water line and provide a new sewer line for residents in that neighborhood, which has seen a lot of failed septic tanks, he said.
The Engineering Department is working with the IT Department to make technology upgrades as some of the city’s technology is out of date because the focus was on other projects, he said.
Water tanks get a clean look
Utilities Director Aaron Rinehart said the department pressure-washed its elevated water storage because it had been looking mildewy.
Ball said city staff rarely gets calls thanking them for projects, but by the next day, people were sending him pictures of the tanks and commenting about it.
Reinhart said bills are going out, and with the letter or notification is information about a consumer confidence report.
The city had no monitoring violations for 2022. “We continue to have several employees passing certifications of one form or another in distribution and collection,” he said.
Three completed ASCO wastewater collection training.
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