[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6311404,"mediaKeyId","2396093-c70a1025b02b8b41bd5af1a693ebd162","parentId",2396093,"title","Parks update: splash pad on schedule, Foundation Park shift to city maintenance, pickleball among planned park projects","audioSeconds",1300,"startMs",860000,"endMs",2160000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396093-c70a1025b02b8b41bd5af1a693ebd162&start=860&end=2160","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396093-c70a1025b02b8b41bd5af1a693ebd162/thumbnail_860000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6311404/Ohio/Parks-update-splash-pad-on-schedule-Foundation-Park-shift-to-city-maintenance-pickleball-among-planned-park-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311404-04c9ad1466c9579bca944b437859eeed/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190882&Signature=Gkjn0qyZLAnvflz7Zf3SjUaLfjwgq8Tb2PW6yvO8RZTdRR6HRMblQzLrs5GZ1eR8JTPZhD9bXybs8ZhFwQY5yCarjdmy3cIcYZAkKP2Wx790wteCLnTFZPdEkqlMvvWGaQsDkFx0S~bjAGA7GqiD0~jd5l96NUUrzLOf3wOeyCZX0hvttRfW87njiqjaK~EUei0cdfM8IhB1GC08FXdiR3x41U1t7aNsBpvC1WcZeNy1yS1cpA-oEc3Ytva1QsXqyhscytSG8DPLutpBSd~sDfkL~et8p--x07JggsmxLkVWh7M2mV1G0Fu7DiPZ2P-HAnuWoo9aIY5PECRMrISS~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Mount Vernon OH","date","2025-02-26T12:06:24.727Z","article","City staff and park partners provided a detailed parks update on Feb. 24 that covered the splash pad timeline, Foundation Park maintenance transition, Memorial Park ballfield work, and planned pickleball and Riverside Park improvements.

Splash pad and reimbursements
City engineers reported the indoor splash pad project is on schedule, with inside work progressing under temporary heat; a donor pledged to reimburse early payouts and staff said the first reimbursement check was expected to arrive the following Thursday. Staff said the contractor is progressing and the state inspector has been conducting checks.

Foundation Park and Foundation Park Conservancy
Council heard that the city plans to assume full care and maintenance of Foundation Park in 2026. Staff said the conservancy will transition into a “friends” role focusing on capital projects and fundraising; the conservancy currently has separate endowments (capital and perpetual care) and the city will take on some maintenance responsibilities while honoring preserved donor arrangements.

Veterans Memorial and American Heritage Park
Staff described plans to relocate and reconfigure the Veterans Memorial to American Heritage Park as part of America 250 observances, including new arrangements for engraved bricks and a new design that could be bid next year. The city will maintain family groupings of memorial bricks in the redesign.

Pickleball, Riverside Park and CDBG projects
Council was briefed on CDBG-funded park elements in Riverside Park and West End improvements. Staff said the pickleball courts have local fundraising ($50,000 raised by the Mount Vernon Pickleball Association), and the city has budgeted its portion for construction in the CDBG timeline. Federal environmental clearances and state steps remain to be completed before the city can bid and award; staff said the project goal completion date is Aug. 1, 2026.

Memorial Park ballfields and other park work
Staff outlined a phased approach at Memorial Park that will involve separating utilities, removing some older buildings and grading fields; the work will inconvenience leagues this season but aims to deliver improved fields and spectator amenities for next year. Staff also described plans to move some utilities and create temporary pads for leagues during construction.

Foundation Park programming and MVAC
The Mount Vernon Arts Consortium (MVAC) presented its 2025 season and said it has an MOU with the Foundation Park Conservancy to provide technical and production services for the park’s events. MVAC’s season includes the Park Summer Kickoff (headliner Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder), July Fourth programming and family events; MVAC said it will continue to coordinate programming with the conservancy and the city for the park’s 10th anniversary year.

Other park items
Staff said the city and conservancy are addressing geese through proven control measures (egg addling and coordination with ODNR volunteers), planning minor repairs to the Schnorrmeyer Event Center and refurbishing elements such as the River of Glass and the reflecting pool in the labyrinth.

Council and staff emphasized the transition of operations at Foundation Park is a phased effort and that the conservancy will remain a capital partner while the city takes on care and maintenance responsibilities in 2026.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council - City of Mount Vernon, Ohio - February 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff told council the splash pad is on schedule and staff received notice a reimbursement check is expected; Foundation Park Conservancy will transition care and maintenance to the city in 2026, and pickleball courts and other park projects are planned through CDBG and donor funding.","taxTitle","Mount Vernon, Knox County, Ohio","taxId",71655,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6311408,"Council roundup: salt barn, street resurfacing, and personnel measures among Feb. 24 votes",1021,3420000,4441000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396093-c70a1025b02b8b41bd5af1a693ebd162&start=3420&end=4441","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396093-c70a1025b02b8b41bd5af1a693ebd162/thumbnail_3420000.jpg","/articles/6311408/Ohio/Council-roundup-salt-barn-street-resurfacing-and-personnel-measures-among-Feb-24-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311408-a419c0bf04f18275866654c74ac5052b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190882&Signature=FvtvPw6IJWV0nCzrFeS6uBFbsVPd~e~6PuldgRu15Jicih42qnHikob9mEryorS1iWbsNMzI1cHNDhkXBp8Oa0srRr4jMNZ9pLDfDhu1ZpmrJXtLnHbjW8kuLswqr1t9AKCq4wO2MVAX3PWfyYNjMutKXLRla1BmEPwjVH4D2AukCUz5xWsLCbcSbiyRHmzHErrDOJaBtTxIMoEmmg1ViEYV9-zT5xvO7DOztvEha3-FzfpTfPo-vrY~Hpa2srawUxZbWXfQ0h7zfOl8JuFtFX91BIfSaV8byYB3IaN~ZjSoFsNbbvU-wQsCL07Rrc1KS2fDXli6jT6USD9BneWLsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mount Vernon City Council’s Feb. 24 session produced a mix of project authorizations, personnel decisions and administrative approvals.

Major outcomes
- Salt barn: Council adopted Resolution 2025-26 to advertise for bids and construct a salt barn at 1700 Old Delaware Road. The council suspended rules and approved the measure by roll call; staff said the facility is needed after the city was notified it must vacate the current salt-storage location.

- 2025 street resurfacing and curb/gutter restoration: Council adopted Resolution 2025-27 to advertise for bids and enter contracts for the 2025 street-resurfacing program; the council suspended rules and approved the resolution. Staff said the list will be bid up to budgeted amounts (the city has a $500,000 budgeted amount for asphalt contracts and other funding sources may be used for TIF-area streets) and that pothole repair funding remains in operations, separate from this capital effort.

- Payments and appropriations: Council adopted several administrative resolutions (Resolutions 2025-29 and 2025-30) to pay certified bills and make supplemental appropriations, including reimbursement for police training and clearing up prior TIF payments identified by the auditor’s office.

Personnel and appointments
- Records commission: The council confirmed Mayor Tanner’s appointment of Rebecca Abbott to the Records Commission (Resolution 2025-31), after the prior member stepped down.

- City inspector ordinance: Council adopted Ordinance 2025-04 (third reading) establishing compensation and terms for a newly defined city inspector position; the measure passed by roll call 4–3. Staff and council said the position had been budgeted during the regular budget process and that the role consolidates duties to provide dedicated zoning/property-maintenance and permitting oversight.

- Communications director ordinance defeated: An ordinance to create a communications director position and set pay (Ordinance 2025-05) failed in a 3–4 vote after debate about whether the position should be hired to a specific person or opened to a competitive posting. Council members who supported the measure cited the need for improved public information; opponents raised process and budget-transparency concerns.

Other procedural notes
- Council moved Ordinance 2025-06 (amending multiple supervisory/professional pay grades) to a later meeting for additional detail; the ordinance was postponed to March 10, 2025.

The council also completed several first and second readings on other items and received reports from staff and the mayor. Several adopted measures were passed after suspension of the three-reading rule to expedite procurement and construction timelines.","On Feb. 24 the Mount Vernon City Council approved multiple resolutions authorizing bidding on capital projects (salt barn; 2025 resurfacing) and confirmed appointments, while voting down a proposed communications-director ordinance and postponing one pay-grade measure.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6311414,"Council authorizes Mansfield Avenue side path project, approves construction-inspection selection process",250,1000,251000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396093-c70a1025b02b8b41bd5af1a693ebd162&start=1&end=251","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396093-c70a1025b02b8b41bd5af1a693ebd162/thumbnail_1000.jpg","/articles/6311414/Ohio/Council-authorizes-Mansfield-Avenue-side-path-project-approves-construction-inspection-selection-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311414-3d076d943f53a65a0e3ccc4eebd1560a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190882&Signature=Ez5Np7~2OUoB-X70dy~MSSszJzNiPkuehzmVmALBmXjbIlbOhFwyhRQNRNZ9OC1Ddft-uPNfzPpc8UFAMUBOqBM-TKqp1dW~DMAfjvzDUnB9Pum23eqUHanU3A3cisMJnZs2Knaanrmd6foKqyoo1COBgglJQHbHMS1D~HZcWLOZfiZ3gg0Dp~b8-pv2ROBV1fs9zr5NJCP1b7hREAIdpPZgsuvha4ZwFuJPkzFEVwHBU7qlb5Q5Pa0bpLgtQkqgl1J5YDWqcebwK4LBc-8ro40UA2t1RmScmLQ8AgZg2~rw68lxBeXvVvZzso6I0GtsNNT-X8O5bFgX603eEuvS~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mount Vernon City Council on Feb. 24 voted to advertise for bids on the Mansfield Avenue shared-use path and to proceed with a qualifications-based selection for construction inspection and related engineering services during construction.

The project covers Mansfield Avenue from Belmont Avenue south toward Grange, building a mostly 10-foot shared-use path that narrows to 8 feet where adjacent houses are close to the road (ODOT approved the narrowing after public involvement). Council members approved two related measures: Resolution 2025-17, to advertise bids and enter a construction contract, and Resolution 2025-18, to seek qualifications and award construction-inspection services.

City staff said the construction estimate for the project is $1,819,000. The city expects roughly $1,500,000 in ODOT funding toward construction and construction-inspection costs under a cost-share assumption of approximately 95% state/federal and 5% local; staff noted the state/federal funding does not fully cover all costs and the city’s share may be slightly higher in practice. About $600,000 of stormwater work is included in project plans; staff said they expect to apply roughly $300,000 of stormwater-utility funds toward the local share and use the capital budget for the remainder.

Construction-inspection services are expected to cost up to about $200,000 and that amount is budgeted in the project. Staff said competitive bids and bidding outside peak construction season could reduce actual construction costs; any savings would be retained by the city.

Council members and staff described the route as connecting neighborhoods, schools and existing ODOT and community-development projects, and noted the project includes sidewalk connections near the Noose/Nash intersection and a crossing near Fairgrounds Road.

The council recorded roll-call approval of both resolutions. The city will proceed to advertise for construction bids and solicit qualifications for inspection services.

Votes at a glance (project resolutions):
- Resolution 2025-17 (advertise/bid construction): adopted by roll call (Yes: Mahan, Woods, Ruckman, Keener, Miller, Seibel, Severns).
- Resolution 2025-18 (qualifications-based selection for construction inspection): adopted by roll call (Yes: Mahan, Woods, Ruckman, Keener, Miller, Seibel, Severns).

Funding and next steps: Staff will publish the bid documents, receive bids, and return with a bid award recommendation. Design includes 10-foot path sections, reduced 8-foot sections where needed, curb improvements at drive crossings, and stormwater work. No final contract has been executed as of the Feb. 24 meeting.","Mount Vernon City Council voted to advertise bids for the Mansfield Avenue shared-use path and to start a qualifications-based selection for construction-inspection services, approving use of $1.5 million in ODOT funds and a 95% state/federal, 5% local cost-share framework.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parks update: splash pad on schedule, Foundation Park shift to city maintenance, pickleball among planned park projects

Council roundup: salt barn, street resurfacing, and personnel measures among Feb. 24 votes

Council authorizes Mansfield Avenue side path project, approves construction-inspection selection process