MOUNT VERNON — The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is encouraging the city to apply for state funds for the cleanup of the old American National Can property.
Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis said he met with officials from the OEPA this week and they felt the project was a good one for state funds to be used.
“They feel there is extensive assessment needed there since the property is on an aquifer,” Mavis said. “We thought it was a good project, and were encouraged by them.”
On Monday, Mount Vernon City Council approved applying for $300,000 from Clean Ohio Funds for the assessment. The city had applied for federal funds recently, but was turned down.
If the city receives word later this year it has been approved, Mavis said there are two things for which they will be looking. First will be the extent of the environmental impact ANC and previous businesses had on the property. Second will be an accurate estimate of what is in the soil and the cost to clean it up.
“We’ve never done a total assessment to see what was there and the cost to clean it up,” said Mavis.
In other news:
•Saturday, Sept. 5, is the final cleanup day in the city. Residents can bring their solid waste to the transfer station on Tilden Avenue that day from 8 to 11:30 a.m. The city will pay half of the costs.
•The water fountain at Riverside Park is being restored by Geoff Oliver and the city parks department. The fountain is being refurbished and will be placed near the “volcano” fountain next spring. It will have a new bowl and the project will cost the city about $2,500.
•Veteran and former police capitan George Curry will be the featured speaker at the MIA/POW vigil on the square on Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m.
•Plans for the pool for 2010 were discussed by city and pool officials. Mavis said they are considering keeping the pool open only on weekends between the start of school and Labor Day weekend.
•Mavis said work on the Plaza building project is nearing completion. The middle floor of the parking garage should reopen sometime next week, and the total project is expected to be completed around the end of September.
•The city’s asphalt project is under way. Mavis said the city is milling the streets prior to repaving; some of that milling will be used to create a better parking lot where the old Connell’s building once stood on South Sandusky Street.
•Mavis said he has heard from three solid waste haulers in response to his survey letter. Mavis was attempting to find out information on recycling in the city as the laws affecting the licensing of haulers and recyclers may be changing. He said the three that responded said about 35 percent to 40 percent of their customers recycle.
