MOUNT VERNON — Citing reasons virtually everyone understands — health and family — Councilman Mike Miller announced he intends to resign from Mount Vernon City Council.
Miller disclosed his intention in a Feb. 28 Facebook post. He will make it official at council’s March 10 meeting.
“It is purely health and family because of the insurance benefits,” Miller told Knox Pages on Tuesday.
“When I ran for city council, I lost my health benefits through Ohio Public Employees Retirement System. I’ve recently had surgery, and I need those benefits back.
“I like a good political fight and argument, but I have to think about the rest of my family, too,” he added.
When voters elected Miller as 4th Ward councilman in November 2023, Miller focused on three areas.
“One of the reasons I ran for council was for zoning changes to make it easier for people to build in the city,” he said.
“I felt city employees needed to be paid more. That was always a controversial thing between the mayor’s office and council, so I was able to participate in that.”
Miller said he was most passionate about the courthouse and city annex building project.
“I think the momentum has shifted toward taking a more serious approach toward Heartland Commerce Park, which I think is the right decision because it will save money,” he said.
Miller believes the city has made strides in all three areas in the 14 months he’s been a councilman.
Council members adopted updated pay grades in April 2024 and a revised zoning code in July 2024.
The administration is holding a listening tour to solicit feedback on the city annex, courthouse, and Heartland Commerce Park.
Transparency is key
Miller cites transparency as another significant issue.
“I think the mayor’s office is headed in the right direction with what they wrote in their budget narrative toward greater transparency. If they follow through with what they wrote in the budget, I think that’ll be great for the community,” he said.
For Miller, transparency is about community meetings and having information beforehand. He cited the multiple community meetings required for Community Development Block Grant projects as a good example.
The lack of community meetings for the Edgewood Road project before council voted was an area for improvement.
“Transparency starts when you have information before you start a project, not when you’re in the middle of the project,” he said. “The city seems to be on track to start doing that, so that that makes me feel good.”
Miller’s idea of transparency also involves committee meeting discussions lasting longer than five or 10 minutes.
“If need be, have a half hour three times over the course of legislation and let the public see council members actually discussing stuff,” he said.
An active council
Miller called on city council members to become more active.
“Council needs to be a little more involved, not just sitting there waiting for the mayor’s office to give them information to make a decision,” he said.
“I don’t think everyone understands that there are separate legislative branches. As a council person, you can do more things than what we actually do, just like when I did the whole Facebook thing about the city building project.”
Miller advocates talking with the mayor’s office to get things done. But if that does not work, there are other alternatives.
He said that includes encouraging Municipal Judge John Thatcher to consider Heartland Commerce Park as a location for the new courthouse and justice center.
“The judge is an elected official, but in the end, the council decides what gets built,” Miller said.
“I believe in giving the judge everything he needs to have a safe, secure courtroom, but even if you move it into City Hall and add on to the back, it’s still a lot of money.
“I think council should have some serious discussions with the judge’s office and have individual council members sit there and discuss that with the judge.”
Even though Monday’s council meeting is his last, Miller remains invested in the city.
“I’m still going to stay involved, particularly in the building project. I have some skill sets I think I can help with,” he said.
“Who knows, maybe there will be an opportunity down the road getting involved politically with stuff again. I believe that God opens and closes doors, and I’ve followed that in my entire career and in life.”
