9-1-1 Consolidation
Commissioner Teresa Bemiller said the 9-1-1 consolidation between the city dispatchers and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office will go live on July 7. A system testing is scheduled for the Fourth of July weekend. The consolidated center will be at 117 E. High St. Allelectrical work is completed at the new location, the generator has been tested and all personnel and radio equipment have been moved. The original cost of consolidation was projected at $380,000; the $467,000 final cost is partially due to upgrades in equipment and the requirement for a specific generator. The city’s cameras at City Hall and the Mount Vernon Police Department will be incorporated into the system. “We’re satisfied with where it is and how the testing is going,” said Bemiller. Regarding reported computer problems, she said, “Obviously when you merge two systems that is a huge project. Everything is on schedule and the commissioners are happy with where it is.”
Jail Contract
Councilman Mike Hillier said this issue is traditionally addressed in November and a decision has to be made quickly. The discussion always includes whether it is better for the city to charge violators under state or city code. If violators are charged under city code, the city pays the KCSO for prisoner housing but receives the revenue from fines. If violations are charged under state code, the KCSO pays for housing and the county retains fine money. Hillier asked City Auditor Terry Scott and City Law Director Chip McConville to look at numbers in advance so the commissioners would have advance knowledge of potential changes.
McConville said that in 2013, city violations accounted for about 9,300 jail days; 4,500 of those violations were felonies, which cannot be filed under city code. That leaves 4,800 jail days attributed to misdemeanors (9,300 – 4,500 = 4,800). The current contract requires the city to pay the KCSO $327,600 a year. If instead of a flat annual amount the city were to pay the per diem rate of $60 a day, the cost would be $288,000 (4,800 x $60 = $288,000). In council’s Dec. 23, 2013, session, Scott reported fine revenue received in 2013 was $134,693.41.
McConville said that of the misdemeanor violations, 89 percent were petty theft, OVI and domestic violence; 10 percent were persistent disorderly conduct and trespass. Under recently retired Municipal Judge Paul Spurgeon, repeat theft violators were sentenced to 60 days in jail. Domestic violence violations account for a lot of jail days because violations often occur on Friday and the violator is held over the weekend until a court date on Monday or Tuesday.
McConville said that if the city wants to start paring down its cost for the jail contract, violators should be charged under state statutes. However, he also cautioned that the information he is working with is raw data and he needs to look at it closer to determine more definitive numbers. Hillier said he would like the new police chief to look at the numbers and provide input as well.
On the agenda but not discussed at Monday’s meeting is the amount the city pays the county in support of the public defender’s office. As of December 2013, the city was to pay $22,000 in 2014; if the city were to pay in proportion to the number of cases charged under city violations, the amount would be closer to $55,500.
Thayer Road Compost Facility
Commissioner Thom Collier said there is much utilization of the facility, and since most township residents have composting plans in place, most of the utilization is by city residents. He suggested expanding the hours of the facility to include Sunday. “We get a lot of dumps outside the gate because it’s closed,” he said. The facility is currently open Wednesday and Saturday. The Delaware, Knox, Marion and Morrow Solid Waste District also encourages expanded hours. Councilman Sam Barone suggested Sunday afternoonhours might be acceptable to those who still hold Sunday sacred; he also said if the facility was open Monday through Saturday it is okay to close it on Sunday. The city and county equally share the cost of the facility; Collier said expanded hours would be a minimal cost. No formal decision was reached but the consensus appeared to favor expanded hours.
Fairgrounds Road Waterline
City Engineer Cameron Keaton said the line is installed and ready to be connected by the Knox County Fairground Board. Rates are based on meter size; the meter size during the fair cannot be downsized due to fire protection requirements. Safety-service Director Dave Glass said the city will charge regular rates during the fair and look at a decreased rate based on consumption the rest of the year.
Upper Gilchrist Road
Keaton said plans are to rototill the section of Upper Gilchrist Road between Yauger and New Gambier roads, recompose the gravel and add 5 inches of asphalt on top. About 600 feet of underground tile will be installed to handle drainage problems. Although not a permanent fix, Keaton said it will last for five or six years. The approximate cost is $120,000; the work is planned for the fall.
Beckett Annexation
The commissioners accepted the city’s annexation of nearly 85 acres between U.S. 36 and Upper Gilchrist Road. The parcel comes into the city under township zoning; when developers are ready to proceed, development will be subject to the city’s Municipal Planning Commission zoning process.
CA&C Depot
The city, county and Foundation Park Conservancy each own a portion of the bike trail in the vicinity of Columbia school. Collier said for ease and clarification, he would like either the city or county to own the conservancy’s portion. Keaton said he is seeking proposals from engineers about how the trail should cross South Main Street and that bidding for incorporating the old railroad bridge into the trail should begin in the spring.
Dan Emmett House
The Knox County Historical Society is researching whether it can be rebuilt or if the society even wants to rebuild. The house was destroyed in an arson fire last week.
