MOUNT VERNON — 2009 was a very good and full year for the city of Mount Vernon.

Four major projects and several others that weren’t quite as big were completed in the city this past year. South Gay Street was improved and paved, the plaza building was rehabbed, a water line was completed on Wooster Road and Vernonview Drive, and the restroom/shelter was completed at Foundation Park.

The city also completed several smaller projects, including the brick street and curb gutter rehab on McKenzie and McArthur streets, the South Sandusky Street firehouse curb improvement, the trail expansion at Foundation Park, flashing crosswalk lights were placed on three busy streets, the front steps of City Hall were rehabilitated and the Riverside Park Learning Walk Project was completed.

Although Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis is happy with the completion of so many projects in the city during 2009, he said he is also looking forward to several other projects being worked on in 2010.

The big project on the list is the crossover road between Yauger Road and Coshocton Avenue. The city has completed a lot of the preliminary work and hopes to bid the project early this year.

The city will also be working on several projects in the Sychar Road area, thanks to a Community Development Block Grant. Sidewalks and the rehabilitation of a bridge in the area are on the agenda this year.

Other projects that will be discussed and worked on this year include relining the wastewater plant intereceptors, the methane boiler at the wastewater plant and filter media at the water plant.

Mavis said there will be preliminary discussions on future projects in the city such as the Coshocton Avenue widening and safety project, the Ohio 229 and Edgewood Drive intersection, and the Foundation Park pedestrian bridge.

Mavis was pleased with the work of the city street department following the 2-plus inch snowfall that fell Wednesday night. He said crews were out beginning at 2:30 a.m. and had many of the high-traffic areas open by the morning. They are using a 50/50 mix of salt and grit on the roads.

“I think our people have done a pretty good job keeping the streets clean,” he said.

The mayor also said the big push continues for workers to help count the citizens of Mount Vernon and Knox County this year. The federal census department is looking for people to help in the decade’s count of residents in the United States. For more information or to find out how to help, visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census.