MOUNT VERNON — As the weather warms up, residents’ thoughts turn to spring cleaning. And as the residents start to clean around the house, the city of Mount Vernon is looking to help.
Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis said the city will once again pick up half of the tab of any trash taken by city residents to Allied Waste/BFI Waste Systems, 107 Tilden Ave. No hazardous waste, roofing or concrete will be accepted, and an ID will be required to verify residency.
The city will pick up the tab during two cleanup weeks, as well as the first Saturday of each month through September. The first date will be Saturday, May 2, with the station also accepting items May 4-8. The station will be open on Saturdays — June 6, July 11, Aug. 1 and Sept. 5. And, because of a lack of participation the past two years, the city is also paying if residents bring items Aug. 24-28.
“Any time during that time frame, if you take your trash there and give them your name and address, they will bill the city for half the cost,” Mavis said. “It’s an opportunity to clean up around the house and have the city pay for half.”
Mavis said the city’s bill was just $3,500 last year, but hopes it returns back to the $8,000 to $12,000 the city paid a few years ago.
Also, as warm weather approaches, it’ll be time to get the backyard pools going again. Mavis reminded residents the city has a zoning ordinance that requires security around the pool area so young children can’t get in without adult supervision. A letter has been sent to all residents who had pools registered in the past; anyone with a pool who does not receive a letter should call the city code officer.
Mavis reported that Geoff Oliver and the city park department have been working with a tree trimming company on old, rotting trees in the city’s parks. They will be cutting down trees, including a large maple on Public Square, that have been deemed rotten or damaged, and planting new ones in their place.
“Some trees that have their tops damaged or are rotting, I think are a threat to get blown over in a big windstorm,” Mavis said.
The city has opened the bids on the renovation of the Plaza Building that houses the police department. The bids were much lower than expected and Mavis said the design engineer must review them before they will be awarded.
A preconstruction meeting on the Gay Street improvement project will be held Thursday. Work is expected to begin around April 1.
Mavis said he and police chief Mike Merrilees have been discussing the parking ordinance and enforcement of it, possibly by the police department.
The mayor also said that council members will meet Monday at 6 p.m. at the old Stage building for a tour. Mount Vernon Nazarene University has purchased the building and is in the process of renovating it into an arts center.
“It’s amazing what they’ve done with it. It’s a classic building for downtown. Hopefully, it will be as great an asset to the university as it is to downtown,” Mavis said.
Council is also expected to look at whether to grant an easement to the Woodward Development Corp. for a geothermal well for the Woodward Opera House. The proposed well would be in the sidewalk on West Vine Street and provide heating and cooling for the building.
