WMVO Good Times Great Oldies
From the left, Mel Severns, Amber Keener, James Mahan, LeNan Hager, Zac Sherman and Joe Porter at the lectern. Photo Credits: John Wareham
Mount Vernon City council worked through a full agenda Monday night, advancing major funding decisions for the new police station, approving the next steps in a multi‑phase Safe Routes to School project, and authorizing several routine infrastructure measures.
Police station financing plan moves forward
Council continued shaping the financial plan for the city’s new police station, beginning the process to issue up to $29 million in notes or bonds. The amount is intended to cover both construction costs and “soft” costs such as furniture, fixtures, and equipment.
In December, council approved a resolution allowing the city to be reimbursed for up to $25 million in upfront construction expenses. The additional authorization gives the city flexibility as it prepares for a guaranteed maximum price from Corna Kokosing, the construction manager at risk for the project. Once that figure is finalized, the city will issue a note for the required amount.
Municipal advisor Andrew Brossart outlined the city’s financing options and recommended a one‑year note, a common tool for construction projects. He said current borrowing rates are around 4 percent, and the city could renew the note or convert to long‑term bonds next year. He also noted that Mount Vernon remains below the debt‑to‑expenditure threshold typically evaluated by rating agencies.
Several existing loans are scheduled to be paid off between 2027 and 2030, and bonds tied to the city’s water‑meter upgrades do not count against the city’s bond limit because they are paid through user fees.
Council plans a third reading on the legislation and scheduled an additional Finance and Budget Committee meeting for March 9.
City seeks funding for Phases 2 and 3 of Martinsburg Road safety improvements
Council also voted to apply for a Safe Routes to School grant through the Ohio Department of Transportation to continue safety improvements for students walking to and from the middle school, high school, and career center along Martinsburg Road.
The city previously received a $328,000 ODOT grant for Phase 1 of the project, which includes new sidewalks from Riley Street to Ames Street, six crosswalks, two flashing beacons on Martinsburg Road, and a connecting sidewalk to Yellow Jacket Drive. Construction is planned for this year, though the city cannot award a bid until after July 1, when ODOT’s new fiscal year begins.
Assistant City Engineer Quentin Platt said ODOT encouraged the city to apply now for Phases 2 and 3. The agency recently doubled the maximum Safe Routes to School grant to $1 million, and the Martinsburg Road corridor ranks as a high‑priority area on the state’s active‑transportation map. The city recorded five pedestrian or bicycle‑related incidents in the area last year.
Phases 2 and 3 include additional sidewalks on South Main, Pine, Parrott, Riley and Spruce streets, along with new crosswalks and flashing beacons at several intersections on South Main, Newark Road, Salem Street and Delano. Council suspended the rules to meet the March 6 application deadline.
Property owners will be responsible for snow removal and maintenance on new sidewalks. Council members discussed notifying residents once construction is complete.
Other council actions
Council also approved several additional resolutions and ordinances Monday night, including authorization for the Safety‑Service Director to apply for the Brownfield Remediation Program, approval of a contract with ODOT for the State Route 13 CORPO Project, and permission to advertise for design‑services bids for improvements on North Sandusky Street and Upper Fredericktown Road. Council also passed an ordinance establishing the compensation package and terms of employment for the City Clerk position.
Mobility Management Program Coordinator Joe Porter also addressed council, outlining transportation challenges faced by older residents, including limited mass‑transit options and recurring issues with vehicles parking on sidewalks.
Councilman Taylor Jacklin was absent.