MOUNT VERNON — Public participation dominated the Oct. 23 meeting of Mount Vernon City Council.
Several residents from the city’s west side spoke about the decertification of the levee along the Kokosing River.
Don Lang noted the west-end residents are without protection since FEMA decertified the dike. He questioned the city’s priorities, citing priorities around town vs. west-end projects that need to be done.
“It’s time we help the west end,” he said.
Charlotte Cline related her experience of living through the 1959 flood. “Please do what you can do to help us folks in the west end of Mount Vernon,” she told council.
Tonja Kent said her concerns center on the decertification of the dike in its entirety.
“I am here to make sure that council has earmarked a significant amount of funds in the 2024 budget to rectify the neglected dike and/or levee. And I would like to know what the current course of action is at this point,” she said.
Kent also asked whether the city is eligible for capital improvement grants, how the city uses stormwater fees, and what happened to the money the city allocated in years previous toward dike maintenance.
She also questioned the value of spending money related to attracting Intel growth when the city’s infrastructure is not safe.
Doug Snow also referenced the 1959 flood, noting it affected the entire downtown and west end. He said his flood insurance has gone up 30 percent.
“What progression do we have going forward that we can feel self-assured that we can be safe where we’re at?” he asked.
Mayor Matt Starr responded that there are no overnight answers. Repairing the dike is a several-million-dollar, several-year project.
“It’s going to require a lot of planning, and to do that, we need information. So that’s what we’re doing right now,” he said.
As an example of how the city uses stormwater fees, Starr said $250,000 was leveraged to obtain grant money for a $1.5 million riverbank restoration project along Phillips Drive.
The restoration enables the widening of State Route 13, which will allow the commerce that will generate the money needed for additional improvements.
‘Emergencies’
City resident Don Carr spoke about the frequency of city council members passing legislation with the language “declaring an emergency.”
Declaring legislation an emergency means it goes into effect immediately after council passes and the mayor signs it. There is no provision for the public to appeal.
Conversely, legislation that does not include the clause becomes effective in 30 days. During that 30 days, residents can submit a petition requesting the city to put the legislation before the voters.
“This is a right provided by the state of Ohio and the city under code 1156.07,” Carr said. “A right that is often taken away from voters with the addition of the emergency clause.”
Carr said legislation relating to rezoning land should not include the emergency clause, especially if the parcel is in a residential district.
“As a matter of fact, district rezoning change should be one of the public’s most protected concerns,” he told council. “Changing an R-1 single-family neighborhood to high-density apartments or townhouses should be done only when the majority of the city residents approve of it.”
He asked council not to use the emergency clause inappropriately, especially when it changes a parcel’s zoning classification from single-family homes.
Pickleball
Caleb McCoy and Kurt Hinterschied spoke about the city’s pickleball facilities.
McCoy said the sport has grown to include 20 to 30 people in the city’s open-play group. However, the facilities at Memorial and Riverside parks only accommodate 16 players at any given time.
“Memorial Park is not actually a pickleball facility. It’s a junior tennis facility that’s been painted to accommodate for pickleball,” he said. “The courts at Riverside have seen better days, and they need some love and tender care, possibly replacement.”
McCoy encouraged city council members to see that renovations at Riverside Park make it into the budget as soon as possible. He also suggested the city install lighting as part of the renovations to accommodate evening play.
Kurt Hinterschied said that after further analysis of the proposed renovations, he thinks the city should reduce the court size.
Additionally, the concrete picnic area in the design requires moving a lot of playground equipment that residents heavily use. He said west side residents would not be happy losing that equipment.
Hinterschied is working on getting estimates for concrete and paving for the pickleball courts. He also encouraged council to include design and construction fees in the 2024 budget.
Knox Public Health
Health Commissioner Zach Green reported the number of confirmed or suspected Lyme disease cases has reached 114. That is over 40 cases compared to last year.
“We’re going to continue to see that trend continue as the years progress,” he said. “The reality is we need to continue to educate ourselves about black-legged deer ticks.”
Green said that as the black-legged deer ticks migrate west, Lyme disease will be an ongoing issue. He encourages everyone to check for ticks if they’ve been in the woods and to ask primary physicians to check for Lyme disease if they experience fatigue or rash.
“The sooner you can get out ahead of it, the better the chances that it doesn’t become a chronic issue,” he said.
Green also noted that influenza season is starting. The health department offers vaccine clinics.
Additionally, renovations at 202 W. Vine St. are on target for completion in January 2024.
Prospect Street parcels
Greg Culbertson spoke to council about several parcels on which he intended to build a house. He wanted to donate part of the acreage to the city for green space. However, the lots are not suitable for building.
Rezoning
Woodside Drive resident Robert Beck had questions about the rezoning of 34 acres on Upper Gilchrist Road. Lemmon Development requested a change from R-1 single-family to PND (Planned Neighborhood District). The city’s municipal planning commission approved the change at its Oct. 12 meeting.
Beck cited traffic problems and the increased amount of tax burden residents face as reasons the city should not approve the rezoning. City council will hold a public hearing about the rezoning on Nov. 27 at 6:45 in council chambers.
Legislative action
Council took the following actions:
•Gave the first reading to legislation accepting Prospect Street property from the Wesley Cline Trust
•Appointed Laura DeLeon to the Shade Tree and Beautification Commission
•Authorized using $90,000 in CDBG money to buy playground equipment for Dan Emmett Elementary
•Authorized a contract with Brittany Lonsinger and Christopher Curphey, DBA Clipped LLC, to lease 5 E. High St.
•Accepted a thermal imaging camera donation from the Aladdin Shriners Hospital Association, Baldwin Shrine Club
•Gave the first reading to an ordinance removing the requirement to advertise public notices in the Mount Vernon News
•Approved extending the Coshocton Avenue TIF District (Tax Increment Financing) another 30 years
•Gave the first reading to legislation rezoning 34 acres on Upper Gilchrist Road from single-family to planned neighborhood development. A public hearing is scheduled for Nov. 27
