MOUNT VERNON — One of Mount Vernon city council’s final actions in 2025 authorized Safety-Service Director Tanner Salyers to negotiate land transactions relating to the new police station on Sychar Road.
Resolution 2025-135 authorizes two transactions:
•Acquire, by purchase or donation, parcel 66-09207.001 from Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Action
•Acquire a portion of property owned by Curtis Partnership LLC (parcel 66.0144.3000) and swap city-owned property (parcel 66-09207.000) to help offset costs
Salyers said the .333-acre Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland property is appraised at $300,000, primarily because of the building it contains. He declined to state a purchase price.
“We’re still discussing with Kno-Ho-Co how we will work with them, because we have to work with them to relocate them as well,” he said.
If, for example, the building itself were relocated, the city’s purchase price would likely be lower because the land would be valued similarly to vacant ground.
Acquiring the Kno-Ho-Co property will provide the new police station with room for stormwater retention, likely a retention pond.
Salyers said the Curtis Partnership transaction benefits the city in two ways.
First, the city will not have a cash outlay.
“This will not affect city financing at all because we still have money from the state. That can go toward any sort of land acquisition or site preparation,” Salyers said.
The city received the $2 million through the One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund.
Lower construction costs
The second benefit is lower construction costs.
“When we started looking at soil testing, topography and everything, our design showed that we would have to build retaining walls. There would be some significant site work to that north side,” Salyers said.
“Both Pizzutti and BKV said it would be preferable if we could shift toward the south. Then you’re building on a more level ground that is more soil ready. That will save us a significant amount of money in construction.”
Pizzutti and BKV serve as the city’s owner’s rep and design firm.
Salyers said the Curtis family and Kno-Ho-Co have been willing partners working with the city.
“There will still be some details to work out, final pricing and some details, and we’re still going to look to save the city money and make the best deal for our friends that is least disruptive,” he said.
Salyers hopes to finalize the land transactions in the first weeks of 2026. When the transactions are complete, the city will have approximately 5.9 acres.