MOUNT VERNON — Council members again discussed the Sustainable 2050 initiative through the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission at their meeting on Monday.
Mayor Matt Starr reiterated reasons for supporting it, including environmental, equitable, and economic benefits.
There is no cost to support it, and there are no MORPC regulations by which the city must abide.
Councilwoman Amber Keener said that while she heard what MORPC as a whole could do, she did not hear specifically what Sustainable 2050 would do for the city. She noted that she appreciates the city’s sustainability efforts enacted or in process but said she is concerned about certain oversteps she has seen in Central Ohio.
“While I am an adamant supporter of ways to be sustainable in our community, I struggle with the thought that this will bring in unwanted or maybe even unnecessary oversight on improvements that we’re already working toward,” she said.
Council ultimately supported the initiative by a 5 to 2 vote. Keener and Councilman Mike Hillier cast the no votes.
Legislative action
Council members took the following additional actions during the legislative portion of Monday’s meeting:
related reading
•Authorized a joint city-county application to the Ohio Public Works Commission for water and sewer line improvements on Fairgrounds and Clinton roads
•Gave a second reading to an ordinance setting compensation for city elected officials
•Reappointed James Brown to the Shade Tree and Beautification Commission and Katie Delozier and Steve Jefferson to the Property Maintenance Appeals Board
•Gave a second reading to legislation authorizing a Request for Proposal for designing the new municipal courthouse and police station
•Approved fund transfers and supplemental appropriations (appropriations include $180,000 from Ariel Foundation for tree plantings and removals and sidewalk repairs, an additional $24,998 from ODOT to reimburse design costs, and $480,000 in grant money for the Fairgrounds Road project
•Gave a first reading to legislation distributing the safety-service director’s salary among staff members assuming SSD responsibilities until a new SSD is hired
•Passed as an emergency on first reading a resolution accepting the amounts and rates of the city’s three levies: general fund (2.6 mills, generate $790,300), police pension (.30 mills, $91,400), and fire pension (.30 mills, $91,400)
related reading
•Gave a first reading to legislation creating a new chapter in the city’s codified ordinances relating to massage parlors
Fire Chief Chad Christopher gave his quarterly update to council.
Brittnay Mitchem of Riverside Recovery Services told council about a drug that has made its way to Knox County.
Xylazine is an animal tranquilizer mixed with fentanyl. It is more than 200 times more powerful than fentanyl. Users can injest, inject, or smoke it.
Narcan does not reverse xylazine’s effects. The drug causes skin ulcerations which can lead to amputation. Antibiotics can reverse the drug if caught in time.
Mitchem said she is “spreading awareness because you can’t change something if you don’t know about it.”
