Mount Vernon to seek bids for pavement striping, parking-lot sealing and demolition of 20 dilapidated properties

Acting City Manager Nathan McKenna asked the Mount Vernon City Council on May 5 to authorize solicitation of bids for several public-works projects and a demolition program.

The council granted permission to seek bids for a city-wide pavement striping job covering west-side local roads (including 42nd Street, 45th Street, Veterans, Davidson, Potomac, Shiloh Drive, South Water Tower, Downing, Victoria, Lincolnshire and Wells Bypass). The project is budgeted at $24,000.

Council also authorized seeking bids to seal parking lots F and G downtown and the Lincoln Park ballfields parking lot on 34th Street; staff estimated the cost at $48,182.40.

For Summer 2025 the city budgeted $300,000 to demolish up to 20 dangerous or dilapidated structures. The meeting record lists the targeted properties (examples): 1507 S. 12th Street; 1018 S. 23rd Street; 719 Bell; 219 Opdyke; 916 Welkins; 421 S. 13th Street; 621 S. 18th Street; 817 S. 12th Street; 525 S. 24th Street; 2517 Herbert; 701/705 Bell; 600 S. 19th Street; 404 Liebengood; 705 S. 22nd Street; 700 S. 17th Street; 1021 Welkins; 1216 Jones; 1308 Perkins; 313 Opdyke; and 1304-A S. 26th Street. McKenna told the council some demolitions require court orders and that obtaining those orders can take a couple of years; the city proceeds with demolition only after court approval.

Council members unanimously approved the bid solicitations on recorded voice votes with Council Member Ray Botch absent.

Next steps: staff will publish bid solicitations and later return with bid results and contract recommendations for council consideration.