Mount Vernon News

FREDERICKTOWN — A petition signed by a group of concerned citizens was presented to the Fredericktown Village Council by village residents Donnie and Laurie McManaway, and J.R. Thorne. The petitioners asked council to consider making the alley that runs between Salem and Zent roads, and between Zent and Tuttle roads, a one-way alley.

“There’s either going to be an accident or kids are going to get hurt or killed,” Donnie McManaway told council. He explained that large groups of youths have nowhere to play except the alley, where many of them ride their bikes.

Thorne described blindspots that make it impossible for drivers to see children as drivers are watching for traffic from the other direction.

“It’s the safety I’m more concerned about than anything,” Thorne said.

Mayor Roger Reed, who lives in the neighborhood affected, said he often sees 15 to 20 youths in the alley at the same time on their bikes.

Almost all residents of the homes that border the alley signed the petition.

After some discussion, Reed said he would ask that legislation be drawn up for council’s consideration to change the traffic pattern of the alley.

In other business, Ordinance 2008-11 adopting the annual budget was given its third and final reading.

Reed told council that after advertising for a loan to pay for a property on West Sandusky Street, only one bid was received before the bids closed today. First-Knox National Bank offered a loan of $155,000 for 24 months at an interest rate of 3.61 percent. The village has proposed to purchase the home to allow for street improvements. After the work is completed, the village plans to resell the house on the property.

“We are going to accept this from First-Knox,” Reed said, asking Village Administrator Gary Gallogly to begin advertising for bids for the street improvements. “Let’s get it done, and get it back on the market.”

Reed told council he would like to see Village Solicitor Todd Drown prepare legislation that would allow an option on the ballot this November for participation in a volunteer energy co-op. Council agreed.

Gallogly said two large trees that were recently removed on Sandusky Street were in very bad shape, and posed a liability risk. He explained that a large limb from one had already fallen during a storm, and that when the trees were taken down, large amounts of water poured out of the trunks.

The subject of outdoor woodburning furnaces was again discussed.

“I think it’s something that council needs to address,” Reed said, adding that health concerns about smoke gave him reservations about allowing the use of outdoor woodburning furnaces in town.

Councilman Alan Kintner said the rising cost of fuel made the issue timely. Reed said he had several questions about the woodburners in the last week.

“Before we get 20 of them in town, we need to address this,” Reed said.

Gallogly said he would check with other municipalities in the area to see what legislation they had adopted. The issue was tabled.