MOUNT VERNON — Two projects in the city are about to get under way.
Bids were opened, but still need to be reviewed, before being awarded for the critical street project and the rehabilitation of a water tank, Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis said Friday.
Small’s Sand & Gravel had the apparent low bid, which needs reviewed to make sure it meets all the criteria.
The critical street project includes the widening of the Ohio 229/Edgewood Road intersection, as well as the paving of 40-plus streets in the city. The widening project will include adding a left-turn lane at the intersection and will cost just over $300,000.
The rest of the project which was to include the paving of 40 streets in the city, has been expanded to include 46 streets, as well as the roads in Mound View Cemetery since the bids were low enough. The paving project will cost just over $805,000. Both projects will be paid for through an Ohio Public Works Commission grant.
The second project is the rehabilitation of the Wooster Road Elevated Tanker. Both the inside and outside of the tank will be painted and some maintenance work will be completed. D&M Painting Corp. of Washington, Pa., submitted the lone bid of $160,700, well below the city’s estimate of $250,000.
Once the bids are reviewed and awarded, work is expected to begin soon on both projects.
There are other projects already in progress around the city. The new parking lot at Hiawatha Park is coming along fine, Mavis said. The lot will include approximately 70 parking spaces, including handicapped spots. It will also use a new idea on limiting water runoff. Water will run off the asphalt through a pervious concrete area which allows water to slowly drain into the soil, then into a rain garden. There will be a sidewalk from the lot across the park to the pool area. Mavis said that once the lot is complete, they will begin paving the lot near the pavilion.
The expansion of the Veterans Walk of Honor is also nearly complete. Geoff Oliver and the parks department workers will be adding the insignia of each branch of the services into the concrete around the bricks.
Mavis also said the volcano fountain at Riverside Park will be getting a new control box soon. The old fountain which was near the road will also be hooked up soon.
Mavis said the warm days have helped attendance at the Hiawatha Water Park/Pool. He has also received good comments on the frog slide and fountains in the baby pool.
