MOUNT VERNON — The long-range plan for a second fire station moved forward Monday night when the city council approved a land purchase on the far east side.
The land is 2.719 acres on the southeast corner of Upper Gilchrist and Yauger roads.
City officials declined to state the purchase price as they have not signed the contract.
Mayor Matt Starr said that 51 percent of the city’s EMS runs are on the east side. Nearly one-third are on Yauger Road.
In 2020, the Ohio Fire Chiefs Association analyzed the city’s fire and EMS runs to find the best location for a second station. The analysis found that the ideal site would be at the Coshocton and Vernonview intersection.
The OFCA rated 46 target areas in the Mount Vernon Fire Department’s coverage area as a significant risk.
Thirty-two significant-risk properties fall within a four-minute travel time with a second station at the suggested Coshocton/Vernonview site.
A station at the Upper Gilchrist/Yauger Road intersection greatly improves the response time to those 32 significant-risk facilities.
Safety-service Director Tanner Salyers said the idea is for a three-bay station. The city has no designs yet, but Salyers said money for the design phase is in the 2024 budget request.
Council members waived the required three readings and approved the purchase as an emergency.
Legislative action
Council members waived the second and third readings and adopted the following legislation:
•2024 rules of conduct
•The reappointment of Sibley Poland to the Historical Review Commission
•Sale by internet auction of property no longer needed
•Support America 250
Council waived the three readings and authorized the purchase of 40 portable radios for the police department at a cost just shy of $162,000.
The current radios are 9 years old, and the manufacturer is discontinuing the model. Additionally, they are incompatible with MARCs radios.
Council members took the following additional actions:
•Gave a second reading to legislation to bid and contract for the Dan Emmet water/sewer improvement project
•Held the first reading on four ordinances relating to compensation for members of the Mount Vernon Municipal Court
•Suspended the rules and passed on first reading resolutions allowing Paddle for Heroes to camp at Memorial Park on May 19, approving membership in the Regional Planning Commission, and paying bills
•Gave a first reading to legislation authorizing to bid and contract for the Mansfield water line project and adopting Phase 2 of the city’s strategic plan
•Held first readings for ordinances vacating two separate undeveloped alleys
