MOUNT VERNON — Legislation transferring two parcels of city land to the Knox County Land Bank met resistance at Monday’s city council meeting.
The parcels comprise a parking lot on South Gay Street across from 18 E. Vine St.
Mount Vernon resident Bruce Malek questioned why the city would give away the parcels.
“At some time in the past when they were acquired, short of them having been inherited by bequest, they were acquired with taxpayer money,” Malek said.
“In reality, those parcels belong to the people, and I don’t know what logic supports the proposition that the mayor or you members of city council as our representatives should simply give it away.”
Malek noted the legislation references a commercial end user who will employ local residents and remit taxes to the city.
He questioned when that might occur, whether there is a current prospective purchaser with a known intended use, and how much income is it expected to generate.
“Unless there’s something already in the works, you don’t know the answers to those questions,” Malek said.
“It seems reasonable and logical to retain title to those properties until such time as the city or the land bank has identified a prospective purchaser so that the city retains control over the properties as well as their ultimate use.”
Malek also questioned why the legislation and four others on Monday’s agenda contain the emergency clause.
He said it does not fit under the “immediate preservation of the public peace” or “health and safety” clauses.
Under the “expedite the economic revitalization of the Central Business District” clause, Malek said waiting 30 days for the legislation to take effect after passage would not make a difference.
Background
The two parcels comprise one parking lot with 43 parking spaces.
Land Bank Vice President Sam Filkins said the land bank is in preliminary discussions with the city to provide public parking for 18 E. Vine St. and the rest of downtown.
The Mount Vernon Parking Co. manages the lot. Board President Phil Herald said the parking company rented spaces to the Mount Vernon News before Metric Media acquired the newspaper.
Since then, the parking company has only rented about 10 spaces. Herald said the lot needs a major overhaul to be upgraded.
According to deeds on the Knox County Recorder’s Office website, the city bought parcel 66-50090.000 from Hulah P. Workman, widow, and John P. Workman, married, for $1 on Aug. 27, 1970.
The city also paid $1 for parcel 66-50091.000, buying it from Elizabeth Hart on March 9, 1970.
Council members gave the legislation a first read.
Finance & Budget
Council members waived the third reading and adopted legislation adjusting general and non-general fund appropriations.
The legislation included one reappropriation, moving $6,000 from the safety-service director’s contingencies fund to the newly created Council Clerk fund.
“Systemically, I feel like that needs fixed, and I think we have had the discussion about the need for that,” Safety-service Director Tanner Salyers said.
In the general fund, council members appropriated $94,000 to the auditor’s office to cover training, desks, computers, scanners, and other one-time equipment expenses, as well as salaries for additional staff.
The non-general fund holds restricted accounts. Non-general fund adjustments include off-setting increases and decreases between the two police and two fire funds.
Appropriations decreased in four funds due to anticipated revenue being lower than projected.
The bond redemption fund increased by $87,544 to accurately reflect the annual bond payment due.
One of two capital improvement funds will decrease by $308,202.
Salyers does not anticipate significant project disruption; however, lower-priority projects might be scaled back, delayed, or cut to accommodate the reduction.
Salyers said the city brought in a little over $600,000 more than anticipated in 2024.
Additionally, the auditor’s office has determined that the city had a $2 million carryover from 2024. The carryover number was unknown when council members set the budget last December.
Salyers said that going forward, the auditor’s staff should close out each month’s records within three or four days. If that occurs, he anticipates having accurate numbers for each fund’s anticipated revenue and carryover amount.
The administration will continue working with the auditor’s office and council members to streamline bookkeeping for the bed tax, Hiawatha Water Park scholarships, and perpetual care funds.
That includes reviewing legislation language and ensuring it matches with accounting requirements.
Streets & Public Buildings
Mobility Manager Joe Porter reviewed the goals of Knox County Mobility Management (KCMM) and the Transportation Advisory Committee.
A Federal Transit Administration grant funds KCMM through the Ohio Department of Transportation. Knox Public Health administers the grant.
KCMM works to educate residents about and improve transportation and mobility resources throughout the county.
Porter coordinates Project Sidewalk and works with municipalities on complete streets and active transportation policies.
He also works with residents to find a transportation solution that best meets their needs and is affordable.
(Below is the 2025 Transportation and Mobility Resource Guide.)
Parks & Recreation
Recreation Director Jeff Derr said season passes to Hiawatha Water Park are now available on the city’s website.
The pool season will run from May 24 to Aug. 23, with a few half-day openings at the beginning or end of the season, depending on the school session.
The recreation board reviewed the $9,400 spent on advertising in 2024. After shopping for other vendors, it reduced that to $5,100.
Postcards will be sent to about 27,000 households in the Town Money Saver magazine. The contract includes a free ad in the magazine.
Additionally, the board will send a direct mailer to 6,000 households in the 43050 zip code.
Other legislative action
Council members took the following additional actions at Monday’s council meeting:
•Approved contracting with Gray Matter Systems for lab collection and data reporting systems in the water ($115,560) and wastewater treatment ($159,109) plants after waiving the third reading
•Donated a fire truck and two hydrants to the Knox Technical Center for use in training students (The truck is 25 years old and was replaced by the truck that arrived earlier this month)
•Gave a first read to legislation to apply for a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant for the new police station
•Waived the three readings and authorized applying to the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District for a grant to help cover the cost of flood control studies for Center Run, Delano Run, and Dry Creek
•Appointed Kathryn Breckler to fill Dan Brinkman’s unexpired term on the Knox County Health District Board
•Gave a first read to an ordinance rezoning four parcels on South Main Street
Miscellaneous
Councilman Mel Severns updated council members on a March 14 visit to Gahanna. Severns and administration members toured a former American Electric Power building that Gahanna is renovating into city offices, a police station, and a senior center.
The $59 million project brings disjointed services in three or four buildings into one location.
Severns said Gahanna officials stressed the need to plan for growth.
“It’s important as we think about our needs — police station, justice center, and basically City Hall offices — that we have to think growth,” he said.