Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mt. Vernon budget outlines water, sewer and road projects; wastewater plant improvements planned
Summary
City staff said reconciled Water and Sewer Fund balances leave multi-million-dollar capacity for projects, listing specific water-main replacements, lead-service work, telemetry upgrades and a potential $10 million wastewater treatment plant project within five years.
During the March 24 budget workshop, finance and operations staff presented planned capital projects for water, sewer and streets funded in the FY 2026-27 tentative budget.
The Water Fund reconciled to an ending balance of about $13.09 million; carrying that forward, staff projected a FY 2026-27 ending balance near $11.63 million after planned projects. The presentation listed multiple water-main replacement projects across the city (Casey Avenue, Cherry Street, Broadway, Crownview Drive, 21st Street, East Harrison Street, Castleton Avenue, Logan Street, Industrial Drive, Benton Road, 15th Street, Central Avenue, College Street, White Avenue, Linnview Drive and Waterworks Road). The budget also includes $100,000 for lead service-line replacement, telemetry equipment for the L & N Water Tower and repairs at Eagle Court groundwater storage.
The Sewer Fund reconciled to about $12.32 million; staff are budgeting $3,000,000 previously for a new Public Works building and anticipate a FY 2026-27 ending balance near $10.77 million. Officials said the city must consider approximately a $10 million wastewater treatment plant improvement within the next five years and budgeted $500,000 for engineering to study service lines and a redesign of the northeast portion of Mount Vernon.
Streets funding was also discussed: Motor Fuel Tax receipts of about $675,853 support resurfacing, and staff increased planned road resurfacing expenditures from $600,000 to $900,000 for the coming year. Separate capital projects in Fund 30 include two new dump trucks and other equipment to support public-works operations.
Several sewer and water grant projects were noted as either completed (downtown sewer lining) or ongoing (an EPA Community Investment Sewer Grant of $2.1 million for south-side relining expected to finish this year).
No formal votes were taken on the capital projects at the workshop; staff will provide a compiled project summary and the council will consider the budget in April readings.
