MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon got some good news when it comes to the methane boiler at the wastewater treatment plant on Cougar Drive.

Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis reported he received a call from officials involved with the Ohio Water Pollution Control Loan Fund on the amount of stimulus money the city was to receive on replacing the boiler. Originally, the city was to receive $100,000 for the replacement, and would have to cover the rest of the costs. A representative of the fund notified Mavis the city would receive enough to cover the entire portion of the project — $158,260.

“Apparently, they had some additional funds and since our project was funded, they came back and asked us if we wanted more money,” Mavis said. “We feel pretty good about that. It’ll save us money from our water/wastewater utility.”

The city collects the methane gas that’s created when it processes the sewage, and the boiler serves two different purposes. First, it uses the collected methane gas to heat the building, and second, it helps treat the sewage.

Mavis also reported on a meeting with the Shade Tree and Beautification Committee. The committee is looking at a program that would assess the type and condition of trees in the tree lawns and parks in the city.

It has also identified more than 400 stumps in the treelawn and has contracted with Laymon Farms to grind 150 of those stumps. The project will cost $8,500; stumps on the main streets will be ground first.

“The trees get blown over, have a disease or are cut down, and the stump remains for many years. This is a pilot program to see if it works. We can’t do them all right now — there’s not enough money. But we believe it’s part of maintaining the tree lawns and beautifying the city,” said Mavis.

Council had its work session for the 2010 budget this week. The five-hour meeting helped council members determine what needs to be and will be in the budget for the upcoming year. Mavis said that at the meeting, it was determined not to charge recreational baseball and softball teams for the lights this year and not to raise fees at the water park. The family and individual passes will remain the same price as the last two years and people will be able to purchase them in the auditor’s office beginning late next week.

In another note, Mavis said the city will be crack sealing and resealing the tennis courts at Memorial Park. He said city crews hope to have it completed before the high school spring tennis season.