Windstorm keeps city crews busy with cleanup

Crews from the Mount Vernon Department of Public Works were kept busy this week with the windstorm that swept through Knox County on March 13.

Director Tom Hinkle reported during Tuesday’s news conference that all hands were on deck to help with cleanup from the storm. He said there were numerous trees knocked down, including 16 that blocked city streets and several that involved power lines.

“Friday evening the high winds rolled in, which created all kinds of downed trees across the city, along with power lines, signs; just all kinds of destruction,” Hinkle said. “In an event like this, we have to evaluate every location where there is a tree down. The biggest deciding factor on rather or not my crews can go to work on that tree is whether there are power lines in it. Any time there are power lines in it, I will not have my staff go working on that tree to start removing it until AEP can be notified and they can get someone from their crew to help us with removing the power lines and making sure it is safe for my crew to go to work.”

Hinkle said their priority is opening the street, mainly for fire and EMS, so they can get to where they need to go, and residents can travel safely. City crews are only responsible for the street and right of ways, he said, as they will not remove trees that are in resident’s yards.

He also reported there were several traffic signals damaged, and reminded residents that non-working signals should be treated as a four-way stop sign. Two utility poles were also snapped on Coshocton Avenue at radio hill, causing the road to be shut down for some time on Friday.

The Public Buildings and Land crews were also busy from the storm, repairing roof, siding and fascia damage to several buildings, including some shelters in the parks.

The snow that fell Monday also required three drivers to come in at midnight to salt the roads.

Hinkle said otherwise, they are still working on some areas of the municipal center, including the council chambers, which they hope to use for the April 13 meeting. He also noted that restrooms at the city parks will not be until April.

Mount Vernon Director of Utilities Aaron Reinhart reported they are 50% complete with design for the EPA mandated wastewater treatment plant project. Once they are 70% complete on the phosphorus reduction project, which he said will hopefully be in June, they will submit the design to the EPA in an effort to get the permit to install.

Reinhart said the water treatment plant survived the weather storm even though they lost power for a bit. A generator was used to keep the plant online when the power went out.

He also reminded residents that the rate increase for both water and sewer will take effect with the April billing. The water rates will increase by $1.75 for the minimum each month, with the wastewater minimum increasing by $3.29 per month.

Also, anyone wishing to receive the freeze credit available to those who ran water during the colder months to keep lines from freezing must apply by April 15. Forms for the credit are available online at mtvernonoh.gov or in the water billing office.

Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr reported he received word from the Mount Vernon Fire Department that it responded to 47 calls during the windstorm. The majority of those calls were about downed trees and power lines, but they also responded to a couple of grass fires that were started because of sparks from downed power lines.

The city planned on opening bids for interior work for the Mount Vernon Municipal Center on Thursday. Even though some city offices are already in the new center, others such as the auditor’s office and tax office, are waiting on their areas to be completed.