Mount Vernon begins annual leaf pickup Nov. 3

As the tree leaves begin to turn colors, the city of Mount Vernon is preparing for their eventual fall to the ground.

The city announced recently that its city-wide leaf pickup event will begin Nov. 3.

City Director of Public Works Tom Hinkle reported at a news conference Tuesday his staff will be getting the three leaf pick-up machines ready and test them this coming week, in anticipation of beginning the project the following week. He said they will start with the main streets and then move on to the smaller residential streets. He anticipates the first round will be completed in eight to 10 days, depending on the weather.

Residents are asked to rake their leaves to the curb, but not into the street. Those leaves can clog up the city’s storm water sewers and cause drainage issues. Residents should not leave piles around trees, fire hydrants, mailboxes or signs, and should not park near leaf piles, so that staff and the machines can easily get to and collect the leaves. There should also be no tree limbs, trash or brush within the leaf piles.

Hinkle that anyone wishing to get rid of leaves can take them to the Thayer Road composting facility or mulch them. The Thayer Road facility is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through October and then from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in November.

Hinkle also reported his street crew staff have been performing conflict monitor testing on the traffic signals around the city. There are 54 signals in the city with the monitor and Hinkle hopes to have the testing done before leaf pick-up begins. He said residents may notice intersections where the signals on in and out of flash during the testing.

As fall hits us, it also means the city will be closing its parks and restroom facilities before winter. Hinkle said they will remove the port-a-johns in the second week of November and they will monitor the weather as to when the permanent facilities will be closing. There will be two facilities open all year, at Harmony Playground at Memorial Park and the Splash Pad at Riverside Park, and Hinkle asked that residents help keep them clean and free of vandalism. The parks and facilities are currently open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., but the hours will change to 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. beginning Nov. 15.

The cemetery staff is working removing flags from graves and preparing for winter, as well. Work continues on the chapel, as well, and Hinkle hopes to have it available for indoor services in the spring or early summer.

Assistant Director of Utilities Josh Beltz reported that hydrant flushing is finished and there were no issues this year. He also asked residents to unhook any water hoses and draining them to keep them from freezing this winter.

Beltz also reported they are finalizing the CMR with Kokosing for the wastewater treatment plant. Groundbreaking for the phosphorus removal project will begin about this time next year.

City Engineer Brian Ball reported the contract for the salt barn has been awarded to Shrock Premiere and will begin soon. The city is also moving forward on plans for the new police station on Sychar Road, as well as the justice center and new city office complex.

He said they are also working on a couple of small brick street projects in the city. Some bricks sunk on West Chestnut Street and they are working on making cross walks and curbs on Lewis Street handicapped accessible.

The city is meeting with Clinton Township officials, discussing their collaboration on the Crystal Avenue water line and funding for the project.

Mayor Matt Starr reported the city’s fall clean-up day was a success with ten 30-yard dumpsters and five dump trucks being filled during the event.