MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon city council members pulled a resolution to sell property after administration officials decided to explore it for the city’s use.
The city bought 69 Sychar Road from Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Action Commission earlier this month as part of the new police station site. Council members approved the purchase in December 2025.
The parcel included a modular unit that Kno-Ho-Co used as offices. It is the physical structure that Resolution 2026-36 references to sell.
Safety-Service Director Tanner Salyers said the city initially planned to sell the modular unit on govdeals.com and require the purchaser to move the structure.
However, when city officials toured the facility, they found it was a usable structure, and Mount Vernon could utilize such a structure.
“We are still in discussions with Pizzuti Solutions, our owner’s representative, and BKV our design firm that has been working not only with the police station but with the court facility,” Salyers told the council at its Monday meeting.
“We’re going to explore the option of utilizing this facility for municipal needs; what those [needs] are yet, we do not know.”
Salyers said that although the city “has not landed on a permanent home” for the modular unit, the city will move it from Sychar Road.
The council voted to postpone the legislation indefinitely.
Council members also postponed indefinitely Ordinance 2026-08 for lack of clarity on the job description. The ordinance related to compensation and benefits for a services and resource coordinator position.
Other legislative action
Council members adopted on the third reading two pieces of legislation authorizing the administration to bid and award construction contracts for the Blackjack wetlands and Veterans Walk of Honor projects.
They also suspended the rules, removed the emergency clause, and accepted a Silent Battle monument from Schnormeier Gardens. The monument will reside in the relocated Veterans Walk of Honor in American Heritage Park.
Council members waived the three readings on other legislation:
• Reappointing Michael Percy to the Board of Zoning Appeals, Doug Brenneman to the New Community Authority, and Jessi Busenburg to the Utilities Commission.
• Appointing Julia Suggs and Lyndsey Krownapple as alternates to the Civil Service Commission.
• Paying bills and supplemental appropriations.
• Renaming a payroll account to PIO/Community Development and transferring money within the payroll fund to the newly created account.
• Updating the codes to comply with recent council and state changes.
• Authorizing the Public Works Department to apply for a maintenance grant for the Kokosing Gap Trail. Grants are typically between $5,000 to $10,000. Grant deadline is May 15.
• Formally accepting the donation of Heritage Park from the Mount Vernon Parking Company according to the 2019 gift agreement. (Below is a PDF of the legislation. Story continues below the PDF.)
Council approved a fire/EMS contract with College Township and Kenyon College and revised vehicle storage legislation on their second readings.
Legislation receiving a first reading includes:
• Approving a compliance policy in conjunction with issuing bonds.
• Accepting Medical Mutual health insurance.
• Vacating an alley on Whiteheirs Street between parcels 66-04770.000 and 66-04771.000.
• Rezoning two parcels at 804 Coshocton Ave. from R-1 to General Business.
Public participation
Dogwood Terrace resident Greg Quick asked council’s help with a neighbor who alleged operates a car repair business out of his garage.
Quick said he has video surveillance showing the individual working on cars late at night and said it has been going on for about 11 months.
He also requested the city add progressive fines for such violations and create a noise ordinance that the police department will enforce.
Health Commissioner Zach Green reported there have been 22 confirmed cases of Lyme disease so far in 2026. That compares with 18 at this time in 2025.
“We are entering the busy season for that vector, so we’ll continue to provide information to our community members,” Green said.
Although influenza cases are decreasing, Norovirus, often called the stomach flu, has increased substantially in wastewater samples.
The state has reduced Medicaid payments to the Federally Qualified Community Health Center. Green said that February’s reduction was $800,000.
“We’re trying to streamline our efficiencies and look at those contracts and renegotiate to the best of our ability, but just because we’re a federally qualified health center does not mean we’re immune to a lack of reimbursement,” Green said.
“The health department is still in good standing as far as public health services. It’s the federally qualified direct primary care services that are in jeopardy.”
Click here to access Knox Public Health’s 2025 annual report.
