MOUNT VERNON — City Council took one more step toward the preservation of the wrought iron Phoenix bridge at Foundation Park, Monday.
By approving legislation that allows Safety-Service Director Dave Glass to contract with Richland Engineering for engineering services, council will allow the project to finally take flight.
With donations received from the community, the city’s projected expenses for the project will be around $35,000, Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis said.
Mavis added the engineering services will include which parts of the bridge can be used and which ones will have to be replaced. In addition, because it is a preservation project, the bridge will have to maintain its original integrity including the use of rivets instead of less expensive bolts.
No timeline was given for the project.
Council also approved a piece of legislation that amends the makeup of the Patriotic and Memorial Committee. Mavis said prior struggles to fill the committee with representatives from all the local veterans groups caused the city to rethink the committee’s representation. The committee will now include a representative from City Council, a Knox County Commissioner, the Veterans Service Officer, the mayor of Mount Vernon, three at-large members of the municipality appointed by the other members.
Prior to the legislative portion of the evening, council discussed the proposed easement agreement with Owl Creek Conservancy regarding the wetlands on Blackjack Road. Council is reviewing the agreement while legal council makes some revisions. The city is required to put the 51 acres of protected wetlands into an easement agreement per the Ohio Public Works Grant the city received in 2003 to purchase the land.
Also during committee meetings, council received an update from the Shade Tree and Beautification Committee regarding the mini-parks project.