MOUNT VERNON — City Engineer Brian Ball told city council members on Monday that he wants to try a different contracting method for the new municipal courthouse and police station.
The city typically designs projects, then bids and contracts with the lowest and best bidder. Ball said this method is successful for traditional infrastructure.
Under the “construction manager at risk” method, the city selects a company to manage a project based on qualifications and price.
The contractor becomes involved in the design process, works with architects and subcontractors, and ultimately guarantees a final price.
The price builds in contingencies for construction issues that arise.
Ball said the company becomes a “one-stop shop” and partner.
“They will bring expertise to the table as far as constructability and what parts are available,” Ball explained.
The Knox County Land Bank is using the contractor-at-risk method for its18 E. Vine St. project.
Law Director Rob Broeren said that as the city proceeds, it wants to ensure it remains eligible for federal loans, which provide a significant discount compared to the private market.
The city will retain legal counsel experienced in construction law to help create documents and provide aid if issues arise.
“We think it’s important to bring in people with this level of expertise because no one in the city has built anything quite like what we’re anticipating,” Broeren said.
Ball said the legal review will determine if council members need to change the city code.
Council members gave the resolution authorizing the safety-service director to release a Request for Qualifications a second reading.
Financial
City Auditor Paul Mayville requested council’s approval to transfer funds.
Two transfers totaling $45,000 are within the Public Utilities account and will be used to pay electric bills.
A $125,000 transfer from Public Buildings & Lands to Chief, Captain, and Policemen will help cover a shortfall in the police account.
According to Police Chief Robert Morgan, former auditor Terry Scott did not put the $158,000 council approved at budget meetings into the police account earlier this year.
The fourth transfer is $40,000 from the Zoning Enforcement Officer account to the Safety-service Director Salary account.
Safety-service Director Tanner Salyers said the money will cover his and his executive assistant’s salaries.
According to Salyers, Scott appropriated enough money to pay the two salaries through mid-November. The transfer will cover the salaries from mid-November to the end of the year.
Salyers transferred the money from the ZEO account since the position is vacant, and he serves as the city’s ZEO. The ZEO fund still has money remaining.
Knox cattle dam
City council members waived the three readings and passed emergency legislation setting aside $70,000 for Jack Harris and Intercept Management Corp.
Knox County Common Pleas Judge Richard Wetzel appointed Harris as the receiver in the Knox Cattle Company Dam suit. Wetzel ordered the city to set aside $70,000 of the $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act money the county commissioners contributed toward dam repairs to cover Harris’ expenses.
The legislation has two additional provisions:
•Authorizes the city to identify, select, and contract with a firm(s) for engineering and other related services for the dam
•Authorizes the city to bid and contract for additional Interim Risk Reduction Measures (IRRMs) for the dam
The dam needs additional IRRMs because clogging of the primary outlet and siphons, lake sedimentation, and poor retention in the upstream stormwater pond make maintaining the court-ordered water level difficult.
Employee & Community Relations
City council members discussed and passed an ordinance changing the positions in the Mount Vernon Police Department on its second reading.
Chief Morgan requested that the council increase the number of supervisors (lieutenants and sergeants) from 10 to 11 and reduce the number of police officers from 22 to 21.
In 2023, a sergeant separated from the department due to disability. When a position becomes open, regulations require Morgan to fill it. He did so.
The sergeant is ready to return to work and must return as a sergeant. However, that exceeds the number of supervisory positions allowed.
Increasing the supervisory positions to 11 accommodates the sergeant’s return. It also avoids demoting the individual promoted to fill the sergeant position last year, a move Morgan said would receive union push-back.
The ordinance contains sunset language that reverts the department to 10 supervisors and 22 patrol officers if one the following occurs:
•A sergeant is promoted to assistant chief or chief
•A sergeant is demoted to police officer
•If a sergeant retires
Morgan said the returning sergeant will lead a dedicated drug unit, something the department has already discussed creating.
“This is just kick-starting it a little bit early,” he said.
Compensation pay grades
Related to personnel, council members passed an ordinance establishing compensation pay grades for supervisory and professional personnel by a 5 to 1 vote. Councilwoman Tammy Woods cast the no vote.
Woods asked how the city would cover the increased pay, considering City Treasurer David Stuller’s statement that revenue is stalling. She also expressed concern that the pay grades did not come before the Compensation Review Commission (CRC).
Safety-service Director Tanner Salyers said the pay grades are the same numbers on which council members based the April compensation package.
Additionally, the city council has not yet introduced legislation to appoint its two members to the CRC.
The ordinance was up for its third reading.
Legislative session
Council members took the following additional actions on Monday:
•Gave a first reading to an ordinance setting the compensation and benefits for a fire marshal position
•Reappointed Samantha Ramsier as a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals and appointed Chris O’Quin as an alternate
•Voted to apply for grant money to install walking trails in the Blackjack Road Wetlands Preserve
•Waived the three readings and approved applying for an Ohio Public Works Commission grant in partnership with Clinton Township to extend a water main on Crystal Avenue
•Gave first reading to legislation authorizing the safety-service director to bid and contract for the East Vine Street sidewalk project. The city received a Community Development Block grant for $150,000 for the project.
•Waived the three readings and accepted 36 smoke alarms donated by Lowes and appointed Samara Davis to the Shade Tree and Beautification Commission
Miscellaneous
Knox County Health Commissioner Zach Green reviewed the city’s third-quarter statistics. He noted that Lyme disease cases are currently about the same as in 2023, but he expects them to trend upward by the end of the year.
Knox Public Health will begin a capital campaign in 2026 to build out the West Vine Street campus. Meanwhile, KPH will provide behavioral health and substance abuse counseling services at 206 S. Mulberry St., formerly the site of Moore Family Practice.
“It is in close proximity to our West Vine Street location and will allow us to offer 10 behavioral health counselors along with our psych nurse practitioner,” Green said.
“Having it centrally located and near our resources at 201 W. Vine St. will create continuity moving forward as we continue to navigate toward our build-out.”
KPH received 100% compliance on its federal HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration). At the end of November, it will go before the Public Health Accrediting Board for its next five-year renewal.
The agency completed the Community Health Assessment and is working on the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). The CHIP will focus on behavioral health, substance abuse disorders, access to care, and housing and security.
Noise
Jefferson Street resident Dan Fox told council that Airco has not resolved the noise issue in the neighborhood. Councilman James Mahan agreed the noise level from the compressor is high.
He said that according to Jeff Gottke of the Area Development Foundation, Airco moved the compressor to the other side of the building but moved it back because it did not provide the pressure workers needed.
He understands that Airco plans to build a structure around the compressor to contain the noise.
SSD Salyers sent a letter to Airco ordering the company to address the noise and provide some type of screening around the compressor.