The City of Mount Vernon will be adding a windmill to add more aeration and some additional treatments to the quarry in the coming months, costing the city roughly $17,675 per year.
City administrator Chris Nosbisch said the treatments will help address some of the vegetation that has fallen into the quarry and the aeration to the quarry will help with oxygen levels, which will help the aquatic life there.
With the city Business 30 right of way under city jurisdiction now, it opens opportunities to address nature park more easily.
“These investments are a way to make the quarry a true amenity to the community,” Nosbisch said.
The city is looking to install the windmill in an area that is going to see lower chances of interaction from the community while still providing the benefit of oxygenation to the quarry.
Public works director Eldon Downs said the increase of oxygen to the quarry will help the bacterial treatments breaking down algae and other vegetation, as well as allowing more oxygen for aquatic life in the quarry.
“I look at this as a snowball effect for the quarry,” Downs said.