MOUNT VERNON — The Mount Vernon Fire Department has filled several positions created by the departure of former assistant chief Joshua Lester.
Lieutenant Nate Hines was promoted from EMS coordinator to assistant chief.
Tom Calland becomes the new EMS coordinator/training lieutenant. He starts his new role on May 10.
Calland’s promotion opened a new full-time position for Nathaniel Wolf. Wolf has been in the part-time program for about two years and was recently certified as a medic.
“We’re excited to have him join our team,” Fire Chief Chad Christopher said.
Wolfe starts on May 10.
The department’s new medic is finally on station. The department is installing the final pieces of equipment and will hold a push-in ceremony on May 21 at 11 a.m. at the West Gambier street station.
Chrisopher plans to seek city council’s approval to sell one of the old medics.
“Mount Vernon just started the tradition with our last fire truck, but we also want to do that with our medics as well to show our community we appreciate one of the many things that they pay for,” Christopher said.
The department’s ISO rating evaluation was moved from May 6 to May 13. Mount Vernon fire currently has a 33Y rating. The 3 refers to preparedness in the city; the 3Y refers anything outside a 5-mile radius of a station.
Other fire news:
• Personnel will train in Smitty’s Carpet, Duke’s Quick Lube, and other buildings slated for demolition in conjunction with the State Route 13 realignment.
• The department handled 538 emergency calls in April.
• May is the last month for Ohio’s burn ban in the townships.
Calls consistent for Mount Vernon Police Department
Assistant Chief Andy Burns reported service calls remain consistent in volume and type.
Suspicious person accounted for 57, disturbance 75, and traffic stops 423. Burns said juvenile harassment calls are likely to increase slightly come summer.
The assistant chief said the community is good about reaching out to officers with information and notifying them when word gets out that there may be a problem.
He cited the recent apprehension of Walter Johnson as an example.
“He was being aided by a couple of individuals here who are also seeing charges arising out of that. So, well done to all involved. I can’t thank the public enough for how they really step up and provide information through text, through phone calls, through emails,” Burns said.
Other police news:
• The department will add three new cruisers to its fleet as part of its regular rotation.
• A $14,514 grant award will go toward detectives’ overtime and equipment.
• PAK United released its 2026 calendar. The next event is Kids to Parks Day on May 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Ariel-Foundation Park.
• Safety Town is underway in local schools.
Burns said he was proud the MVPD participated in Love in Action, an event for kids in hospice care.
“It was very neat to see not only our vehicle up there, but to see these little kids running around with Mount Vernon police badge stickers on,” he said.
Code enforcement dealing with trash and high grass
With the onset of spring, City Inspector Scott Zimmerman said his department is receiving quite a few calls about trash and grass.
“Please try to be diligent,” he said. “And with that trash complaint, we also had some complaints about dumpsters that don’t have like surrounds or coverings around them.”
Regulations in 1109.07 and 1305.23 list the requirements for screening for residential and non-residential units.
“If you do get a letter, like always, please call,” Zimmerman said. “We’ll work with you and give you plenty of time.”
Other code enforcement news:
• Code enforcement continues to clean up ordinances relating to vehicle storage. Click here for contact information. Quick links include a property maintenance checklist for tenants and homeowners, zoning permits, and vacant building exemptions.
• The recent Yard Sale Trail was a success with 56 participants.
• With the city’s transition to Opengov software, restaurants will soon be able obtain permits, register their equipment, and request an inspection online. Waste haulers can also comply with city requirements online.
The city will partner with municipal court’s probation department and apply for a Shine a Light grant to curb illegal dumping.
Zimmerman said the city is dealing with a vacant property that has turned into “a nightmare for the neighbors.”
Anyone witnessing illegal dumping can call 1-800-348-3248 or visit stopenvironmentalcrimes@OhioGO.gov.
Property owners who need help cleaning up trash can contact Zimmerman to see if they qualify for a DKMM grant.
North Sandusky Street to close for two days
Mayor Matt Starr said the city will close North Sandusky Street (State Route 13) on May 11 and May 12.
The closure will be both directions between Sugar and Burgess streets and is part of a Community Development Block Grant to install new utility lines before replacing the bricks.
“We’re really excited about this being a major investment on that northwest corridor of the city,” Starr said. “It should also be a help to our fire suppression system and maybe that’ll count toward our 22Y rating.”
May 13 is National Bike to Work Day.
“It’s just a nice way of saying, hey, we want to reduce motorists on the road. This is a way to do that,” he said.
