In response to Gary Koester’s letter, as well as to the recent mailer from the organized opposition to the Edgewood Road Improvement Project, I wanted to set the record straight.

Koester and the others who oppose the project make a false claim that I stated in 2019 that we did not need a connection of Edgewood to Coshocton Avenue.

Then, as a councilman, I performed a research study asking the question, “What is the fastest way to get from the South end to the East end retail area and vice versa?”

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After one and a half plus years of stating concerns to (Mount Vernon) city council of traffic congestion, flooding, water bill attachments resulting from storm water problems and the infringement on current property owners, we felt we were merely a voice that was to be ignored.

So what is the driving force? The road?

How can I convey the communities sentiment? So at 4 a.m. one morning in May, I wrote this poem:

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The mayor and his administraƟon have hidden the truth and spread misinformaƟon about the Edgewood Project.

The name implies it is solely about Edgewood. Actually, it’s about implementing a plan to reconstruct, not only Edgewood, but East High, Stevens, and New Gambier as well.

Edgewood requires improvements, partly due to neglect. Those improvements must be made, but they are being used by the mayor as an excuse to implement his unnecessary, ineffective and costly (about $19,000,000) traffic plan to connect Edgewood Road to Coshocton Ave.

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I’ve been reading the many letters to the editor regarding the proposed Edgewood Road extension.

The one thing that stands out is that I haven’t seen suggestions or alternative solutions for gaining better access to Coshocton Road merchants.

Consider the new condos and apartments towards the east end of Coshocton Road.

An Edgewood Road extension does not help those in the new growth area wanting to head towards Columbus.

Perhaps a reasonable alternative is to use Upper Gilchrist as a means to access RT 229 which is a state route. Note that Upper Gilchrist is already a three-lane road between Rt 36 and Yauger Road.

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The City of Mount Vernon has let the condition of Edgewood Road erode to its present deplorable condition.

The residents want the road repaved, utilities updated, and necessary curbs and storm sewers.

Those repairs and improvements must be made, but it’s not fair to use them as justification to connect Edgewood Road to Coshocton Avenue, something that is not needed, unwanted,will not be effective, and very expensive. 

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