City awards bid to Smith Paving

MOUNT VERNON — Project bids were the order of the week for the city of Mount Vernon.

Mayor Richard Mavis said city officials awarded a bid for one project and accepted potential bids for another this week.

City officials awarded the bid for the McKenzie and McArthur streets brick project to Smith Paving. The company bid $164,818, below the engineer’s estimate of $249,710.

Mavis said the city has $170,000 in capital improvements to do the project, which will include concrete curb work on the two streets. The curb work will help solidify the streets and help keep the base solid for the bricks. The project will start soon and is expected to be completed this fall.

Also this week, city officials received bids for the filters at the water treatment plant. The plant has been in operation for 10 years and it’s time to update the filters, Mavis said. The filters have different layers of granular particles which trap the waste in the wastewater that is run through them. Mavis said the estimated cost was $227,000, but all four bids received were lower. A consultant will review the bids and the city will award it soon.

“The high bid was still $30,000 under our estimate. That’s another example of a good opportunity to get a project done in the economic times we’re in now,” Mavis said.

In other news:

•Mavis said work is nearly complete on refurbishing the old drinking fountain that was next to High Street at Riverside Park. City Parks Director Geoff Oliver told Mavis the concrete has been taken off, the fountain cleaned up and coated with a protective material, and will be reinstalled next spring near the “volcano” fountain. The city received a bowl for the fountain, which will be replaced right-side up this time, he said.

•Mavis said Kent Mills was at the recent Historical Review Committee meeting, asking for approval for a proposed building addition to the Accent House, 405 N. Main St. Since the home is historical and in a historic district, the committee must approve any additions. The proposal was discussed, but no action will be taken until the next meeting, scheduled for Nov. 18.

•A representative of Mount Vernon Nazarene University asked the city for a letter concerning zoning for a proposed campus welcome center. The college is applying for Ohio Department of Agriculture funds to build the center and needs a letter from the city stating the building will fit city zoning requirements.

•The city’s leaf drop-off area is open on Cougar Drive. Residents may bring their leaves Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. They can also take them to the Thayer Road Compost Area on Saturdays. Leaf pickup is expected to begin in the city either the last week of October or first week of November.

•Mavis said the city has 600 tons of salt and salt/gravel mix in the barns ready for winter. Another 200 tons has been ordered.

•The mayor reminded residents the city’s trick-or-treat night will be Saturday, Oct. 31, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.