Mount Vernon council approves agreement to advance Norton Street aqueduct project

Mount Vernon city council approved an agreement to move forward on the Norton Street aqueduct project, formalizing a partnership between the city and the Heartland Commerce Park land bank.

Council members were told the aqueduct is a large drainage asset that serves the city up to Madison Street and nearly to Main Street. Under the agreement presented to the council, the land bank will run the construction contract while the city will cover the land bank’s project expenses and remain involved in design and inspection. Meeting participants emphasized the need to distinguish work on public right-of-way from work on adjoining private property owned by Heartland Commerce Park.

The council’s approval reflects the budget plan showing the project in the city’s non-general fund and the decision to have the land bank administer the contract rather than the city directly. No timeline or dollar amount for construction was specified during the discussion; those details were described as part of the agreement but not read into the record.

The council proceeded immediately to a roll-call vote following the presentation and the chair announced the resolution was adopted.