Mount Vernon seeks bids for key projects

The city of Mount Vernon is exploring every avenue when it comes to funding for projects around town.

City Council approved going out for bids for two projects and heard from Engineer Brian Ball about possible funding options for two others during their meeting Monday.

The city will advertise for bids for a street chip/seal project that will mainly affect the south side and for a team to help renovate the first two floors of the COTC building on South Main for a new municipal building.

The chip/seal will be used on several side streets between Newark and Martinsburg roads this year. Columbia Gas will also be laying new pipes in the area, so the city is looking at a quick and relatively inexpensive way to fix the streets once the pipe is completed.

The new municipal offices will use two floors of the COTC building, 236 S. Main St., once the project is complete.

Council also gave second readings to resolutions applying for funding for two different Sandusky Street projects. The first would be to participate in a Brownfield Remediation Program for both the new justice center and for a portion of the rerouting of State Route 13 along South Sandusky Street.

Ball said the justice center project is more for demolition than brownfield, as the buildings along North Main and East Chestnut streets that will be torn down have asbestos in them.

In the process of buying properties for the Sandusky Street relocation, Ball said they discovered it passes through some old coal, oil and gas works. They will have to remove the contaminated soil near the former Quik Lube shop. Ball said they hope to receive up to $1 million for the projects.

The North Sandusky Street project resolution is mainly to accept the ODOT funds (approximately $525,000) and start the planning phase for the intersection with Upper Fredericktown Road.

The intersection has been filled with crashes over the years, and the city, along with Knox County and Clinton Township, are looking at ideas to make it safer.

In other news, council:

•Adopted the Knox County Multijurisdictional Natural Hazard Mitigation plan.

•Confirmed the mayor’s reappointment of Kathryn Brechler to the Knox County Health Board; and reappointment of Lorraine Boss, Jordan Shremshock and Aaron Moreland to the library board of trustees.

•Authorized the safety-service director to dispose of vehicles in the Mount Vernon Police Department impound lot on govdeals.com. The vehicles include a 1977 Kawasaki motorcycle, a 2006 Pontiac G6, a 2009 Ford Focus, a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500, a 2010 Volkswagen Passat, and a 2010 Ford Escape.

•Authorized the auditor to pay bills.

•Gave second readings on ordinances establishing compensation and benefits for the city clerk position and amending section 911.04 of the codified ordinance.

•Gave a first reading on resolutions applying for ODOT grants for the Safe Routes to School project and advertising for bids for design services on a south end pedestrian improvement project, as well as on an ordinance establishing compensation for an executive administrator for public utilizes and code enforcement.

The next meeting of council will be Monday, Feb. 23, at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.