MOUNT VERNON — On Monday night, Mount Vernon City Council approved the purchase of property that anchors the north side of the city’s Sandusky Street expansion project.
The property, 300 W. High St., will be purchased for $86,000. According to Terry Scott, city auditor, most of the money to purchase the property will come from savings realized from two completed projects and money previously set aside for the Foundation Park tie-in road to Harcourt Road. Savings of $16,000 results from the completion of the Edgewood Road/Ohio 229 intersection and $6,000 from the recently completed McKenzie Street brick project. The city will re-apporpriate $60,000 from the park road project to land acquisition.
“This is for the eventual street expansion for a better flow of traffic on Sandusky Street,” said Bruce Hawkins, chairman of the finance and budget committee.
During a committee meeting, Andrew Pike explained to council and administration that he discovered Main Street is considered Ohio 3 through downtown from the viaduct through Chestnut Street on all available maps except that of the Ohio Department of Transportation. Council members, as well as city administration, believe most truck drivers are following GPS units instead of traffic signs to navigate through the city. Measures are being taken to change the route of Ohio 3 to Gay Street on maps and updates to GPS providers.
