Quite a few city projects are starting to see the finish
line as summer begins winding down.
Director of Public Works Tom Hinkle reported the street
department has completed its pothole patching for the year and are now trimming
trees in alleyways around the city. He said they only trim trees in the right
of way in the 25 miles of alleys.
The parks department has also resealed the youth tennis
courts/pickleball courts at Memorial Park and painted new markings. They have
also replaced the lights at the courts, installing new LED lights and a new
controller that will allow the city to better manage when the lights are on.
Hinkle said the splash pad, Captain Hunter’s Landing at
Riverside Park, will close for the season on Sept. 2. It will remain open from
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day until then. The plan is to reopen the weekend before
Memorial Day and remain open until the Tuesday after Labor Day each year.
Once the pad is officially closed, the installation company
will come in and help the city close it up for the winter, Hinkle said.
The excavation work for the two new areas at Mound View
Cemetery is finished and a gravel path has been created around the area. Once
the topsoil is laid and the ground settles next year, they will put the pins in
place for gravesites. Hinkle said they hope to begin selling plots in those two
sections late in 2026.
Hinkle also reminded residents that any decorations or
plants at gravesites should be on the east side of the headstone. Also, any
decoration that does not comply with the rules of the cemetery will be removed
and placed in storage, if residents want to pick them up.
As daylight begins to shorten this fall, Hinkle said
residents may notice a little easier if street lights are not working. AEP is
responsible for repairing or replacing street lights, so anyone who notice a
light out, can contact them through their website, www.aepohio.com. Residents can notify AEP
with the pole number or the nearest street address which lights need fixed.
Assistant Director of Public Utilities Josh Beltz said the
distribution crew just completed a main line installation at Whiteheirs and
transferred seven customers to new copper service lines. He also reported a
camera crew will begin filming some of the more troubled sewer lines at the end
of the month. Beltz said there is some roots that are affecting the lines and
if anyone is having issues with their lines, they can call the office at
740-393-9502.
City Engineer Brian Ball reported the Mansfield Avenue Shared
Use project is in full swing. The city is creating a shared use path from
Belmont Avenue north to Grange Avenue.
Two projects are out for bid — one for a new salt barn and
one for the paving projects in the city. They both should be open early in
September and a winner will be determined.
Ball also reported a public meeting for those effected by
the Knox Cattleman’s Dam on the east side of the city was to be held Aug. 20 at
the Woodward Opera House. Three alternatives were to be discussed.
Safety-Service Director Tanner Salyers reported that meetings
will begin soon with department heads to determine next year’s budget.
He also reported the city has been fielding several calls
about the deer management program that was recently approved. Licensed hunters
may apply for a city permit to shoot deer with bow and arrow within the city
limits. The permit costs just $20 and each archer has a bag limit of three deer
within the city, including just one buck.