MOUNT VERNON — A proposed new hybrid position is designed to boost economic development and communication for the city.
Council members gave a second reading to legislation on Monday that creates a community development/public information officer position.
Safety-Service Director Tanner Salyers said the position evolved from a meeting a year ago with Jason Duff of Small Nation. Duff was instrumental in revitalizing Bellefontaine.
According to Salyers, Duff said communities the size of Mount Vernon need two things: communication and economic directors.
Salyers said the ADF, Experience Mount Vernon, and the Knox County Chamber of Commerce can help fill the economic director void.
Previous council discussions about a communications director did not work out.
After reviewing the skill sets for each position and the city’s existing partnerships, Salyers and Mayor Matt Starr felt they could combine the positions into one.
Salyers said the Area Development Foundation goes after big companies that prompt people to move to Mount Vernon.
However, the city recently signed a three-year contract with Retail Strategies to market the city to what he called quality-of-life businesses: retail, restaurants, and home goods stores. It includes training someone locally “who knows how to get in the boardroom and talk retail.”
Salyers said that while he, the mayor, or a council member could fill that role, each has potential or perceived conflicts of interest.
Community development includes grant management, large gifts, and donor recognition.
Salyers said that, in addition to writing press releases and social media, the PIO is trained to communicate with various agencies during emergencies.
“In that gap of time when there’s not a fire to put out with crisis communication, we’re seeing communities our size train individuals on community development. Training them on economic development. That way they’re doing that piece, too,” he said.
Council members have mixed reactions
Council member Amber Keener noted the number of recent large donations, such as the Statue of Liberty in the CA&C depot’s Liberty Plaza.
“The work of coordinating around those types of gifts has been very challenging for council members and for administration. I think that this [position] is valuable for that. I don’t see our large gifts just disappearing overnight,” she said.
“That’s a really big piece of this that I think will be helpful.”
The administration will fund the position by reappropriating money within the general fund, primarily the 3600 (Miscellaneous) fund.
Councilman Mel Severns acknowledged Salyers’ reasoning behind the position but said he also thinks about other things the city must pay for.
“Is there anybody within who could do some of this right now?” he asked. “And if the answer is no, then there isn’t. But these are the public’s dollars. How are we making sure we’re using every dollar wisely and prudently?
“What scares me is if we run short in those [3600 funds] at some point down the road, then we’ll be pulling money out of there.”
(Below is a PDF of the proposed community development/PIO job description.)
$5 million for wastewater treatment plant upgrades
Council members waived the three readings and approved applying for a $5 million federal grant to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant.
Salyers said the city was previously in the pipeline to receive the funds, but because of spikes in appropriations in Washington, D.C., projects got backlogged and grants were awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson encouraged the city to resubmit, as has Sen. Bernie Moreno. Council members waived the three readings because Balderson’s request deadline is this week. Sen. Jon Husted’s deadline is March 10, and Moreno’s is the end of the month.
Bond sales for the new police station
Council members amended and gave a second reading to a resolution authorizing the sale of up to $29 million in bonds for the new police station on Sychar Road.
Pizzutti Solutions Vice President Cigarette Parks said the company is working with design firm BKB and construction firm Corna Kokosing on the project. Pizzutti serves as the city’s representative.
Parks said the team has completed 75 percent of the construction documents. Once they are complete, CK will bid the components of the project. The bid results will determine CK’s guaranteed maximum price (GMP) and the project’s cost.
Currently, the station is at 36,858 square feet and includes everything required to be fully functional on Day 1.
If estimates come in over budget, or there are economic concerns or material shortages, the team will evaluate strategies to reduce cost. Deferring work, shelling out a space and completing it later, or changing materials are potential solutions.
Parks said that, ideally, at least three subcontractors will submit bids for each bid package. The team will select subcontractors based on the following criteria:
•Most responsive in terms of complete scope.
•Pricing and staffing plans are complete.
•They have identified any long-lead items.
•Ability to meet Mount Vernon’s quality contracting requirements in terms of how qualified and trained their workforce is.
•They have the bonding capacity and everything necessary to make sure that the project goes from vision to design to implementation to completion.
Initial cost estimates were $29 million. Parks said that the number is down to just over $26 million.
Council takes other legislative action
Council members took other legislative action in Monday’s meeting:
•Waived the three readings and appropriated $3,345,648 for the State Route 13 realignment project. ODOT will reimburse the city through several approved grants.
•Approved bidding and contracting for design services related to Phase 1 of the south end pedestrian safety improvements project.
•Waived the three readings and passed as an emergency legislation authorizing the purchase of a Bobcat trac loader. The city will cover the cost 50-50 between the streets department and stormwater funds.
•Adopted an ordinance creating the position of executive administrator for the public works and code enforcement departments.
•Waived the three readings and authorized disposing of two lawn mowers in the public works department and paying Then and Now bills.
•Gave a first reading to ordinances amending sections 755.04 (curbside recycling) and Chapter 133 (Civil Service Commission) of the codified ordinances.
