MOUNT VERNON — Two residents reiterated their opposition to the city’s proposal to locate a new Mount Vernon Municipal Court on the northeast corner of Public Square, citing historical concerns and business disruption as their reasons.
East High Street resident Vicki Fitzgerald told city council members on Monday that over the last 30 years, there have been too many decisions made that devalued the city.
“Intel isn’t our problem because we are the ones who are continually giving away those things that make us small-town America ‘Historical Mount Vernon, Colonial City,’” she said. “Small-town atmosphere is created by those things that residents can take pride in: The things that make it unique from cookie-cutter towns. It’s those things that visitors and outsiders remember long after they have left.”
Referencing Coshocton Road’s previous designation as the most beautiful entrance to the city and the loss of brick streets and sidewalks, she said, “Once a decision is made to alter the essence of our town, it is gone and changed forever.”
Fitzgerald also said downtown business owners are not only concerned about the aesthetics of a demolition/rebuild project, but they are also concerned about the lengthy time frame required for completion.
“Our already poorly planned downtown traffic situation will make navigating the area difficult at the least and cause commuters and residents to avoid the area altogether,” she said. “The residents who have approached me feel that the city has not been transparent and isn’t getting the word out.
“No one that has spoken with me is in favor of tearing down that city block, and no one they have talked to about it is, either,” she said, adding that several business owners feel that if they speak up, punitive actions might be taken against them.
Speaking on behalf of the Knox County Landmark Foundation, Phyllis Williams urged council to consider what three existing historic structures, which could potentially be demolished to make room for the courthouse, mean to the city’s heritage.
Noting that the fate of the three properties is in the city’s hand, she told council, “When historic buildings are held privately, it’s hard for advocates of preservation to have a voice. But this is a rare opportunity as these buildings are in the public’s hands through you.”
Williams said behind the historic facades of the buildings could be new uses, new features, and new spaces. Removal of them will hurt the historic pride of the community.
“We must decide what really is progress and what is mere expediency,” she said. “Yes, we need to do it, but we need to do it right. … In the haste to find a new home for these essential services, let us not make a decision that we will regret later.”
Williams asked why the new courthouse could not go on existing vacant lots, in Cooper Progress Park, or the former school on North Mulberry Street; who are the community leaders who helped formulate criteria for the new courthouse; the architectural firm that is planning the project and the timetable for completion; and questioned council’s commitment to saving the facades of the three buildings.
Safety-service Director Richard Dzik said the city just closed on the fourth property on Friday. Law Director Rob Broeren said the city will issue a press release that will answer some of Williams’ — and the community’s — questions.
Broeren said the architectural firm has not done any formal designs as to what the outside of the buildings might look like, only space and needs assessments.
Belmont Avenue resident Mallory Dubois spoke to the council about the speeding on Belmont Avenue. She said the street has become a racetrack from Sandusky Street to Mansfield Avenue.
Dubois said a speeding motorist ran over her dog and another almost hit her.
“We need speed bumps or something that curtails the traffic, because the speed limits do not work,” she said.
Clinton Township resident Lyle David Daniels spoke to council about the spillover onto his property from the lime sludge being dumped at the city’s water treatment plant on Old Delaware Road. Daniels’ property abuts the city’s property. He asked the city to stop hauling the sludge to the plant.
In its legislative session, council took the following actions:
•Approved on its third reading the plan for Ohio Eastern Star Home’s planned neighborhood development
•Approved supplemental appropriations, including $5,000 from the Ariel Foundation for Phase 2 of the city’s strategic planning and $42,500 of unappropriated funds for an HVAC chiller upgrade. Council had budgeted $100,000 for the upgrade.
•Approved amending the final subdivision plat checklist to require developers to submit a tree plan
•Gave a second reading revising the process to apply for a residential conditional use in an office-institutional zoning district
•Gave a first reading to legislation giving the Historic Review Commission authority to designate a historic structure outside of a historical district
•Accepted the three-year wages and benefits package negotiated with the union representing the city’s police sergeants, lieutenants, officers, and records clerk
