The Mount Vernon City Council has taken steps to ensure the safety of students by making a school zone official on Martinsburg Road. The council's decision was made in order to request an extension of the school zone from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and include an existing crosswalk frequently used by students.
City Engineer Brian Ball stated that the city had already approached ODOT to extend the school zone on Martinsburg Road to the existing crosswalk at the intersection of Martinsburg Road and Pine Street. However, the city needed to establish the school zone officially before making the request. Ball's comments were recorded in the minutes of the Mount Vernon City Council's meeting on October 23.
The crosswalk in question is regularly used by students from Mount Vernon Middle School, Mount Vernon High School, and Knox County Career Center. The minutes of the council meeting noted that children utilize the crosswalk both on their way to school and after dismissal.
If ODOT approves the extension of the school zone, additional signage and pavement markings will be implemented to reflect the change. Ball mentioned that the city would seek grants to fund school crossing signs, ensuring the safety of students crossing the road.
To further assess the situation, Safety-Service Director Tanner Salyers and Mayor Matt Starr planned to walk the school crosswalk zone on Martinsburg Road on October 27. This information was also recorded in the minutes of the council meeting.
In a separate event, Mayor Starr, Police Chief Rob Morgan, Salyers, Ball, and Assistant City Engineer Quinten Platt, along with Mount Vernon High School Principal Cory Caughlan, conducted a walk along Martinsburg and Newark Roads, as well as Parrott and Pine Streets. This walk was documented in a post on the City of Mount Vernon's Facebook page.
The Mount Vernon City Council's efforts to establish an official school zone and request an extension from ODOT demonstrate their commitment to ensuring the safety of students. By including the heavily used crosswalk in the school zone, they aim to provide a safer environment for students traveling to and from school.
