Mount Vernon outlines next steps for major municipal projects, water system upgrades

City administration introduced two key partners to the facilitation of the new municipal centers to members of city council on Monday.

Safety-Service Director Tanner Salyers introduced Jim Russell of Pizzuti Solutions LLC and Andrew Brossart of Bradley Payne to the members, explaining who they are and what they will be doing for the city.

Russell, according to Salyers is not an architect or a builder, but an experienced voice that will help the city complete the police station and justice center projects and help explore the possibility of a new fire station.

Russell said they will work with the city to set and dictate things the city must have and want done with the projects. He said they can be as specific as the color of the walls, and Pizzuti will review the plans to make sure they are in compliance. They will also help keep the project on budget, making sure each phase is completed within budget.

Brossart and Bradley Payne’s role will be overseeing the project’s plan; working on the schedule between the architect, design team and city; and ensuring the city is making cost-effective decisions.

Brossart said the timeline for the facilities is delivering completed projections, affordability analysis and recommend issuance options by the end of November. By January/February, they will present borrowing legislation for council’s consideration; and by March/April, they will issue the financing.

“This partnership ensures we move forward methodically, not just building for today, but planning for the next generation of Mount Vernon and its residents and its needs,” Salyers said. “These are the transformative projects that we’ve been talking about for, frankly, a decade or more. It’s the most significant municipal facilities investments that we will be making in the decades to come. With Jim Russell from Pizzuti Solutions and Andrew Brossart from Bradley Payne, I think we have the right expertise guiding us every step of the way. The goal is for us to build responsibly, transparently and with the community’s trust.”

Council had a second reading on a resolution that would allow the city to enter into a contract with Pizzuti Solutions as an owner’s representative for services related to construction of the new municipal buildings.

As the wastewater treatment plant improvement project is gearing up, the city of Mount Vernon is also taking a closer look at the water treatment plant.

Salyers said there are three things that need to be looked at when it comes to water in the city — the lime handling system is outdated and inefficient; the southern service area of the city is strained by limited storage and pressure capacity; and evaluating the possible transition to a sodium hypochlorite system for the disinfection of the water.

He said the residents would definitely back the final option, as the current system uses chlorine dioxide and it has been determined to be a factor in certain fabrics developing discolored spots after washing.

MV is one of only two cities in Ohio still using chlorine dioxide and Hamilton, the other city, also has had issues with discoloration. A sodium hypochlorite system would use a liquid form of chlorine to disinfect water safely and efficiently, Salyers said, and would be easier to operate, store and regulate than the system.

The proposed solution for the existing lime handling system would be two new slakers and a new silo for storage.

The proposal for the water tower would be a new tank with up to 1 million gallon capacity near the industrial park or Twin Oak.

Council had a second reading on a proposed resolution seeking a firm to design solutions to any and all of the items.

“That’s a lot of investment in city. Take lot of time to study. I urge all of you to dig in and finish strong. Some great things are happening,” said Mayor Matt Starr.

In other news, council:

•Had a second reading on a resolution advertising for bids for the reconditioning and restoration of the aquatic features at Hiawatha Water Park.

•Had second readings on resolutions on a street reconstruction project in the Burgess and Hamtramck street areas, as well as the Riverside Park neighborhood project.

•Passed a resolution allowing the city to sell three vehicles from the Mount Vernon Police Department’s impound lot. The vehicles include a 1997 Chevy Express, a 2017 Hyundai Sonata and a 2005 Dodge Durango.

•Had first readings on proposals authorizing the use of bonds for construction to the justice center, MV Police stations and MV municipal center.

•Had a first reading on a resolution authorizing the purchase of a new fire engine for the Mount Vernon Fire Department. The Rosenbauer pumper would cost $1,172,243.

•Had a first reading on authorizing the bidding of Mansfield Avenue and Cottage Street sanitary improvement projects, as well as the bidding for Phase 1 of the Memorial Park improvement project.

•Confirmed the mayor’s re-appointments to several commissions and boards. Included in that were: Chip Wilson, Civil Service Commission; Curtis Adams, alternate member to Board of Zoning Appeals; Jim Meyer, Metropolitan Housing Authority; Samantha Ramsier, local Board of Tax Review; Erin Daniels and Jason Hall, New Community Authority board of trustees; and Gordon Gantt, alternative member to Utilities Commission.

•Had a first reading on advertising for bids for sludge removal for 2026-28.

•Approved the purchase of 200 Mansfield Avenue for the possibility of fixing the intersection of Old Mansfield Road and Fairgrounds Road.

•Had a first reading on an ordinance adjusting the wastewater rates for 2026-28.

•Had a first reading on an ordinance approving the execution of a community re-investment between the city and Founders Grove LLC.