MOUNT VERNON — Residents in the Mallard Pointe neighborhood have asked the city to restrict on-street parking in the subdivision due to safety concerns.
“They have had issues in the past with the postal service being able to deliver mail, so we chose the side of the street with mailboxes to be the restricted side,” Safety-Service Director Tanner Salyers said during city council’s Oct. 13 meeting.
“We decided to do a 60-day temporary trial to see if this would be something worthwhile to pursue.”
Homeowners association board member Bill Walls said the problem stems primarily from three homes that have multiple cars parked on both sides of the street.
Walls said it is constant and daily. Additionally, he said the residents disregarded the city’s notice about the temporary parking restriction.
He noted that another home has medical vehicles that park on both sides of the street.
“Our concern is getting emergency vehicles through. If there’s a house fire, someone with life threatening situation or whatever, they wouldn’t be able to get the emergency vehicles through there,” Walls said.
The developer built the road to code and wide enough to accommodate emergency and service vehicles. However, it is not built to sustain the larger vehicles and bilateral parking.
Salyers said the city’s emergency and service departments confirmed it would be impossible or very difficult to get equipment through if cars park on both sides.
The fire department would have difficulty getting its ladder truck and engine through. Salt trucks and snow plows would also have difficulty.
“Given the fact that off-street parking is available, there’s plenty of available on-street parking even with the one side restricted, and it was a request by the community, we pursued that 60-day period,” Salyers said.
No tickets during the 60-day trial period
The city notified residents via letter of the 60-day trial. However, because it is a temporary restriction with no signage or curb painting, the city cannot issue tickets.
Salyers said the city has not posted anything because the council has not made an official decision.
“Once you make it an official traffic change, then we’ll put the signs up, and then we will enforce it. I think after a couple firm calls or tickets, the message will be received,” he told council members.
“That said, if there is an outcry and you decide not to do it, then that’s your decision, council, because my role is just to enforce your decisions.”
Salyers noted that Mallard Pointe is not a through community; typically, motorists have a specific intent to go there. He also believes it should be a discussion between residents of Mallard Pointe and the city.
Salyers has received no communication opposing the parking restriction. However, he has had “very passionate” calls letting him know residents are not observing the 60-day trial.
Assistant Police Chief Andrew Burns said legislation would give the department “the teeth we need” to enforce parking restrictions.
“The concerns are valid,” he said. “Not only the emergency vehicles that need to get through … but other inconveniences such as delivering the mail when they’re blocking mailboxes.
“We’re seeing a potential disruption of emergency services. It is narrow. We need to be able to get through there. There is ample parking on the other side, and there’s the driveway parking.”
Burns said temporary parking for drop-off or pick-up at the group home is acceptable.
“We certainly understand that,” he said. “It’s that long-term, that overnight, several days of parking that becomes a problem.”
Council members gave the legislation restricting parking on Mallard Pointe a second reading.
Cybersecurity
City council members adopted an amended cybersecurity policy that includes more detail than the original version.
The policy includes:
•Ohio Revised Code language defining the term “incident”
•More specificity on approved training sources and who verifies and monitors training
•Designating the safety-service director as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) or his/her designee. Salyers will designate the county’s IT director as the CISO since the city contracts with the county for IT services.
•Stating the city will not pay ransomware without council’s approval
•Annual report to council on number and type of incidents, training status, and program or budgetary update recommendations
•A compliance audit and review at least once every two years
(Below is a PDF of the cybersecurity policy.)
Legislative action
In addition to giving a second read to Mallard Pointe parking restrictions and adopting a cybersecurity policy, city council members took the following actions:
•Adopted on third reading legislation authorizing the city to apply to the Ohio Public Works Commission Capital Improvement Program for funding for Phase 1 of the west end sanitary sewer project
•Gave a second reading to a resolution authorizing a three-year contract with the county for IT services ($180,000, $185,400, $190,962 [3% each year] for years 2026-28
•Suspended the third reading and appointed Councilwoman LeNan Hager to the Shade Tree and Beautification Committee
•Suspended the third reading and extended the Knox Public Health contract another three years ($93,000, $95,790, and $98,663.70 for years 2026-28
•Waived the three readings and passed legislation to dispose of police vehicles, approve supplemental appropriations, transfer funds, and pay bills
•Gave a first reading to legislation authorizing a Construction Manager At Risk contract with Kokosing Industrial Inc. for the wastewater treatment plant’s phosphorus and solids improvement project
•Adopted on third reading by a 6 to 1 vote an ordinance setting the compensation for council president and council members for years 2026-29 (Council member Amber Keener dissented)
•Adopted on second reading legislation setting the city treasurer’s salary for years 2026-29 ($15,000, $15,262, $15,529, $15,801)
•Passed on second reading an ordinance amending the firefighters’ collective bargaining agreement to incorporate an assistant fire marshal (Community Risk Reduction Inspector and Educator )
Appropriations
Supplemental appropriations included $350,000 for the new Mount Vernon Municipal Center at 236 S. Main St.
The money comes from the city’s STAR investment account the city has been contributing to for municipal improvements. Since 2018, council members appropriated $500,000 annually, knowing that the city would either need to overhaul the Plaza Building or build a new structure.
The city signed the lease agreement with COTC.
Salyers expects move-in to start in November, with minor construction work starting in November or early December. The center will house the income tax office, water/wastewater billing office, cemetery, and parks and public buildings, in addition to the administrative functions.
