MOUNT VERNON — PAK United and the Mount Vernon Police Department are gearing up for a fun-filled 2025.
The next PAK United event is Kids to Parks Day on May 17 at Ariel-Foundation Park. Other events include dodgeball and kickball, ax throwing, and Mrs. Claus’ Workshop.
PAK United is also bringing back Safety Town, a program that teaches safety awareness such as bicycle, pedestrian, or bus safety.
Mount Vernon teacher Heather Barbour is coordinating the program for the school district as part of the curriculum.
Mayor Matt Starr said the program will be mobile so officials can take it to festivals and functions to teach bicycle safety.
The city contributed police department discretionary funds to the program, and city employees are helping build the buildings and roadway signs. The portable safety community includes traffic lights and railroad crossing markers.
Residents wishing to contribute can contact Barbour at 740-393-5970, ext. 6128 or email mailto:hbarbour@mvcsd.us.
Businesses and organizations wishing to help can sponsor a building front.
Miscellaneous
The department’s new cars arrived but are not in use.
“We’re waiting on the state and MARCS system to issue us some identifiers for them, and they’re running behind on that. It’s been about 60 days,” Police Chief Robert Morgan explained.
One of the new vehicles is a pickup truck, a change from the traditional SUV.
The department handled 1,393 calls in April. The yearly total of OVIs (Operating a Vehicle under the Influence) stands at 77 and counting.
“So our traffic enforcement team is doing a good job keeping the impaired drivers drivers off the street,” Morgan said.
He cautioned motorists to watch out for children walking to and from school, bicycles, and motorcycles.
Morgan noted that city council will hold a third reading on his request to add another officer to the department at its May 12 meeting.
He plans to add a second detective to the drug investigative unit, which leaves the department one officer short.
MVFD
The Mount Vernon Fire Department’s run volume in April totaled 469 emergency calls. The yearly total is 2,144.
Christopher also got a newer vehicle, replacing an SUV with a Chevy truck, and the department picked up a new 12-foot enclosed trailer on Tuesday.
“That was one part of a grant that we received, so it’s going to be nice. It’s going to house a lot of our special operation rescue tools and hazardous material tools and equipment, so we’re excited to have an enclosed trailer,” Christopher said.
Assistant Chief Josh Lester will graduate from the Ohio Fire Executive Program on Friday.
“It’s a three-year program, a bunch of paperwork, and a lot of work involved. It’s kind of considered a master’s type of study,” Christopher explained. “So we’re proud of him for his accomplishments on that.”
Christopher is teaching a 36-hour volunteer firefighter class in conjunction with the Knox Technical Center. Eleven students signed up for the class, which is held on Monday and Wednesdays through May at the Gambier Street fire station.
Students will take the state test around June 4.
The station is also gearing up to host safety talks and tours.
“It’s always a fun time of year seeing all the little kiddos come through the station,” the chief said.
Fire personnel are completing their spring physical fitness requirements this month. Everyone undergoes the same testing regardless of age or position.
Christopher urged residents to be careful with high water, cautioning them to stay off the river when it’s fast-moving and avoid driving through high water on the road.
He also urged caution with outdoor grilling.
The burn ban in the townships ends May 31.
City inspector
Scott Zimmerman, who joined the city three weeks ago as city inspector, is new to the biweekly press conference.
During that time, he interviewed and hired assistant inspector Brian Marvin, reviewed previous Property Enforcement Officer Greg Bemiller’s documents, and opened 25 cases.
Zimmerman said that with the recent rain, inspectors will not “put the hammer down” on people with high grass.
However, he asked residents to keep it mowed no higher than 9 inches.
“We’ve been working on a lot of inoperable vehicles; that’s been a big one,” he said. “Right now, we’re just trying to get things organized and handle the calls that are coming in.”
Zimmerman stressed that his department is not here “just to enforce things.”
“We’re here to help people.”
mount vernon city inspector scott zimmerman
“I know people get behind the eight ball or they need motors or brakes or things like that. So we’re investigating,” he said.
Zimmerman encouraged churches, Scouts, and other nonprofits interested in helping citizens who are having difficulty mowing their lawns or picking up trash to contact his office.
“I would be more than happy to work with them and coordinate that so we can help some people out,” he said.
In addition to his inspector duties, Zimmerman will help the utility department inspect backflows and FOG (fat, grease, and oil) traps.
Zimmerman reminded residents to check with engineering or check the city’s ordinances if they want to install fences, repair porches, or make other types of repairs and construction.
“When you’re in doubt, assume you need a permit and please call. It would save a lot of problems,” he said.
Administration
Mayor Matt Starr said Saturday’s Clean Up Day was successful.
“We started at 8 am and it was a little after 10:30 and all nine Dumpsters were filled,” he said. “We had a bunch of mattresses and old furniture as well piled up out there too, so it was a success.”
The clean-up effort cost $4,500. The county contributed $1,000, and the city took in nearly $3,500 in citizens’ cost share.
“It ended up being pretty close to a wash, which is great. That helps keep the cost down. … We appreciate DKMM’s help with this and their encouragement to help us continue to reduce this trash per capita ,” Starr said.
The Memorial Day parade and service are on May 26. The parade committee needs eight or nine more volunteers to help with traffic control, check-in, and pacers to keep the parade moving smoothly.
Anyone interested in participating should call Todd Hill at 740-393-9517.
The Front Porch Summer Concert Series committee held its first logistics meeting.
Kids to Parks Day includes the Exchange Club hosting a hot dog roast. Knox County Fish and Game will provide fishing poles for the kids, and Knox County Head Start is helping with a small-animal petting zoo.
If the number of volunteers permits, the city plans rides for people through the park.
