MOUNT VERNON — Mayor Richard Mavis said that the first meeting of the city finance study group went well, with 14 of the 16 members attending. Members heard an overview of the city’s various departments and learned the sources of the city’s revenue.
Mavis said the group was put together “because we felt we survived” the loss of local government funds, the estate tax and other revenue cuts over the past three years while still being able to maintain services and complete projects with the help of grant revenue. He said, however, that the city is behind on its brick street program and asphalt paving schedule because infrastructure projects such as water lines, culverts and drainage issues have been paid for out of the capital improvement or street funds.
“We think it’s time now that we bring a group in to look at a 10-year future,” he said. The group will look at everything, including fire, police and a storm water utility, from “top to bottom.” The group will next meet on Sept. 12 at 4 p.m. Members include Mavis, City Auditor Terry Scott and Safety-service Director Joel Daniels; Councilman Sam Barone; Gordon Yance, retired banker; Jeff Harris, Area Development Foundation; Vicki Sant, First-Knox National Bank; Bruce White, chief executive officer of Knox Community Hospital; Clint Bailey, attorney; Susan Sukys, investment; Steve Rhodes, Siemens Energy; Ken Reynolds, Ariel Corp.; Marc Odenweller, accountant; Scott Peterson, Mount Vernon Nazarene University; Carol Grubaugh, Knox County Chamber of Commerce and Mark Ramser, downtown property owner and businessman. The meetings are open to the public.