The Mount Vernon City Council on Sept. 8 gave final approval to Resolution 2025-87, which authorizes the safety service director to renew contracts with the Ohio Department of Transportation for snow-and-ice removal and for maintenance and repair on state highways within or contiguous to the city, and declared the matter an emergency.

City staff described the practical elements of the contract renewal: participating with ODOT and adjacent jurisdictions to purchase salt (the mayor asked that the city secure its salt bid now), and trading certain maintenance areas so the city, township and state are not salting and treating the exact same stretches of roadway. Staff provided maps and last year’s contract to councilors and said the work is intended to create efficiencies in coverage.

Council action: Councilman Severn moved to suspend three-reading rules and adopt the resolution; the motion carried on roll call and the resolution was adopted.

Why it matters: Renewing the contract and coordinating maintenance is intended to reduce duplicated effort and secure salt supplies for the city’s winter operations. Councilors and staff said no substantive changes to the current practice were proposed, but staff and engineering will continue to coordinate for budget efficiencies.

Next steps: The administration will proceed with the salt bid and finalize the intergovernmental maintenance arrangements documented in the contract.