MOUNT VERNON — The city’s water park will be opening around the end of May, and the mayor wants people to know they can get a discount on the membership rates if they buy early.
Mayor Richard Mavis said that from now through May 10, families who live in the Mount Vernon School District will pay $170 for a family membership. After May 10, they will pay $190. Those who live outside of the school district will pay $190 before May 10 and $210 afterward.
These rates are for a family of four. Each additional person in the family costs an additional $20, provided the person lives in the household permanently.
The savings are similar for individuals. Residents ages 6 to 59 who live in the district will pay $75 for a season membership if they buy early, and $85 if they wait. Nonresidents will pay $90 if they buy early, as opposed to $100 if they wait.
For children ages 5 and under, the early season rates are $40 for a membership in the district, $55 for those out of the district. After May 10, the rates increase to $50 and $65, respectively.
Mavis said memberships can be purchased at the city auditor’s office, on the first floor of City Hall. Membership application forms can be downloaded from the city’s Web site, mountvernonohio.org. Those who had season memberships last year will be considered renewals and will not have to get a new water park identification card.
On Monday, Mount Vernon City Council, after much disagreement among the members, decided to raise membership rates by $10 for family memberships, and $5 for individuals age 1 through 59, in an attempt to help cover operating expenses and chip away at the large debt payments stemming from construction of the water park. The daily rate increased from $5 to $6.
The mayor said brochures containing updated rate and rule information will be sent to all county residents, as well as people from outside of the county who purchased memberships in 2007, the first year the water park was open.
The mayor added that this year’s water park brochures will clear up a confusing question that arose last year over the age requirements for children entering the water park by themselves. Children who are 12 years old, or those who will be 12 years old before Sept. 1, do not require adult supervision. If they do not meet this requirement, a person who is 15 years old, or who will be 15 years old by the end of the pool season, must accompany them and provide adequate supervision.
In other city news, the mayor said:
•He recently had the opportunity to take part in discussions with a local industry that is working on expanding in the area of Blackjack Road, near the city’s industrial park. He said he is not at liberty to divulge the name of the industry, since company leaders have not made a final decision whether to expand or build. If a company were to commit to construction plans in the area, the decision would act as the catalyst to begin an estimated $1.6 million infrastructure project in the area that entails running water and wastewater along Blackjack Road, as well as widening the road.
•The administration should be able to begin a project that includes moving a historic county bridge to Foundation Park within about three weeks. The county has already cleared a way to allow a crane to approach the bow-string truss bridge. The project, which is largely spearheaded through volunteer work, will also include sandblasting, painting and re-erecting the bridge so it can be used as a part of the park’s trail system.
•The city’s annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place Saturday, March 22, at 10 a.m. at Memorial Park. Children 13 years of age and younger are encouraged to participate. The event will be held raise or shine.