MOUNT VERNON — Legislation to put out bids for the Coshocton Avenue-Yauger Road connector road will be presented to Mount Vernon City Council during Monday’s meeting.
“We will not be asking for legislation to take the Lowe’s property because they have been in contact with us and been cooperative with the project,” said Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis. “The project is budgeted for $1.3 million. One of the advantages of this project is there will be no sewer or water lines needed to be put in. It will have a sidewalk on the hospital side and street lights.”
The original plan was to take a variance from the west end of Lowe’s parking lot. This ran into some trouble because of some reluctance on the part of Lowe’s and the fact the road would have to traverse a wetlands area behind the store. This would have required what Mavis described as a double s-shaped curve that was not practical and would have cost too much money.
Mavis said the city’s goal is to have the project completed by late October.
In regard to the controversy over placement of satellite dish antennae inside the city, Mavis said the City Law Director had drafted a response to a letter sent to the city by the Satellite Broadcast and Communication Association, which represents itself as being an organization to protect the rights of satellite communications companies. The letter took issue with the fact that dish antennae would, by city Ordinance 1177, be considered an accessory building and would need to be moved or need a zoning permit. The association contended this was not in compliance with FCC rules which, in part, prohibits any law that would not allow a dish antenna to receive quality signals from a satellite.
Smith’s reply to the association states he believes the ordinance in question complies with all FCC rules and regulations and is not in violation of federal law.
A copy of the ordinance was attached to Smith’s letter.
The ordinance does not seek to ban the dishes or require them to be placed where they cannot receive a clear signal. If the only place a certain dish can receive a clear signal is the front lawn, then either a permit can be obtained or the property owner can ask for a variance based on where a clear signal can be obtained, Mavis said.
Lisa McCabe of the association states in her letter the FCC has ruled the requirement of obtaining a permit or variance can constitute an unreasonable delay in the installation and therefore the enjoyment of the property owner of the service supplied by the satellite dish.
Mavis also reported the Hiawatha Water Park/Pool Committee has tentatively set June 6 as the opening date for the park. Because it is still uncertain when area schools will dismiss for the summer, it was decided the hours of the pool would be abbreviated to 4 to 7:45 p.m. until all schools are finally closed for the summer. The uncertainty comes from schools having to make up calamity days if they had more than three — or five if Gov. Kasich has his way about extending calamity days. Normal hours will be noon to 7:45 p.m.
Mavis said applications had been sent out to students and adults who worked last year and they would get first shot at any openings. He expects the city will hire about 100 people for the summer, about the same as last year. Applications are available in the Mayor’s Office. The deadline for submitting applications for the pool and other parks and recreation jobs is March 31.
