MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis reports that the city budget is not forcing the administration to ask for a percentage reduction in the budgets of city offices — at least not so far.

“The economy will really impact us next year,” Mavis said. “We will certainly have less carryover money for next year’s budget.”

Mavis said most of the city’s big projects will be finished by that time, with the only major project being the Knox Community Hospital-Yauger Road crossover road.

Mavis also said the city engineering department approved final plans for the new Bob Evans Restaurant on Coshocton Avenue.

“This would be east of the old Hot Rod’s gas station,” Mavis said.

Engineering staff have also been reviewing plans for the block of senior apartments going in just north of the radio station on Upper Gilchrist Road.

“They have been doing groundwork for this for almost two years,” Mavis said. “One little glitch they have been working on was connecting to the city sewer system. That has become a little challenge for them. But as far as the building plans themselves, the engineers are reviewing those.”

The project to repave the Plaza parking garage has been going well.

“Engineering has told us that by July 10, the top floor parking area will be reopened,” he said. “They are in the stages of putting the final surface coating on the top floor parking area. They will be blocking off the second floor when they move down to do that floor. The basement floor will only get a partial resurfacing.”

Mavis also reported the Gay Street improvement project is going well.

“They are putting paving down and there will still be some paving to do next week,” he said. “One of the ramps we put in might have to be redone because of its elevation. The sidewalk will need to be leveled, and it may have to be repoured. If that’s the only mistake, we have done well.”

Mavis said he has discussed the possibility of putting the speed trailer on Gay Street after the project has been completed.

“Something we’ve talked about is that people might want to drive faster on the smooth roadway when the project is completed,” Mavis said. “We talked to the police department and we may issue some tickets if the speed gets out of hand.”

In other news:

•A contractor has been retained to work on the crosswalk on West High Street from the play area in Riverside Park to the restaurant across the street. A handicap ramp will be installed and new striping will be painted.

•Night painting crews will be repainting stripes, parking areas and doing other street-related painting. The crews will be working from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., Monday through Thursday, during the next several months.

•Crews will be cleaning and clearing two new trails at Foundation Park.

•The city has awarded a contract to Hoover Construction of Ashland to build restroom facilities at Foundation Park.

•Old parking meters are still for sale, although the red collection boxes are gone. Out of about 700 meters, a little over 100 have been sold.