MOUNT VERNON — Workers were busy the past few days digging the city out from under the half foot of snow that fell Wednesday. Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis said the crews were split and the city had snow removal crews working all night Wednesday and all day Thursday.
“We had people go home at 4 Wednesday, then come back at midnight and had some stay an extra eight hours until midnight,” Mavis said. “By Thursday afternoon, we had hit all the main streets and the side streets.”
The city spread a 50-50 mix of salt and small No. 9 gravel on the streets to help with the road conditions. Because salt doesn’t melt in extremely cold temperatures like the city had Thursday, the gravel mix was used to help provide traction for vehicles.
“The mix had an advantage — the grit provides traction and extends the use of the salt, which tends to cost a lot of money,” Mavis said. “But, on the other end, it causes us more sweeping in the spring. Plus, we have to suck the gravel out of the storm sewer catch basins.”
Mavis said the city’s equipment held up well with the exception of two trucks that had transmission problems. But those problems were quickly fixed and the trucks back in service, he said. He also said that, for the most part, city residents did a good job of moving their vehicles from the snow emergency streets.
“There’s always some [vehicles] that we’ve got to drive around, but that did not keep us from pushing back the snow and opening the parking lanes,” Mavis said. “It was good to see people try to move their cars off the snow streets. In some huge events, we’ll get the police involved [if cars aren’t moved], but before we tow, we’ll try to notify the owner. In some cases, they may be ill or out of town.”
In other news:
•Mavis said the bidding for the Gay Street improvement project will be begin by the end of January. He said it’s hoped to have the bids reviewed and awarded by the first of March.
•The city has begun gathering the information required for the grant for the trails at Foundation Park. The grant, which is expected to be issued in 2011 or ’12, would include a trail hub in Foundation Park and the pedestrian bridge across the Kokosing River. One of the issues that’s arisen is the 20 acres of wetland the city created just off the Kokosing River in the park.
•The city received a draft from an Akron company which analyzed the city’s water pipes. Arcadis was asked to determine if the city’s water pipes might be a reason for the clothes’ splotching with which residents have had issues. Mavis said city officials have looked at the draft and will meet with the company soon to determine the results and what might be the next course of action.
•Mavis said that Judy Cordle is preparing the application for annexing the old American National Can property into the city. The application will be forwarded to Chicago for the chief executive officer of the company which owns the land to sign so the city can begin the annexation process.
