MOUNT VERNON — City council members are considering creating two new positions that could cost the city up to $176,216 annually in salaries.
Salaries for the city inspector and communication director positions range from $62,920 to $88,108. The mid-point for each position is roughly $75,504.
Regarding the city inspector, Safety-service Director Tanner Salyers said while the city does not have a building code, it does have property maintenance and zoning codes.
Salyers is the de facto enforcement officer.
He said not having a dedicated enforcement officer causes confusion for citizens and creates issues for the city when it comes to easements and other areas.
Additionally, Salyers said the utility departments are starting new projects and need help on the administrative side.
“This is the first step toward a building and zoning department director,” he told council. “Does that mean are we planning on launching building codes? Absolutely not.”
While a city inspector sets the foundation for a future building code, Salyers said, “that is something that this administration is not putting forward.”
The current property maintenance enforcement officer would become the assistant city inspector and report to the new city inspector.
The city inspector would report to the safety-service director.
The general fund and utilities would split the cost of funding the city inspector position.
Communications director
Salyers said the plan is to defund the mayor’s assistant position and transition the position to a salaried communications director. The current employee, Todd Hill, would also transition.
The mayor and safety-service assistants’ duties would merge into one position.
Hill will continue for now as clerk of council. However, Salyers said council could add a supplemental line account to its appropriations in the future. For now, nothing changes.
Council members gave a second reading to the ordinances creating the city inspector and communications director positions.
They also gave a second read to an ordinance amending compensation pay grades for certain supervisory and professional personnel and a first read to legislation setting the pay ranges for seasonal, temporary, and college intern employees at $15 per hour minimum.
The maximum rate is $20 per hour.
Wastewater treatment plant
Joe Jacobs of Arcadis reviewed the wastewater treatment plant upgrade project and reiterated it is intended to address facilities that are aged. Project drivers are:
• Protect the Kokosing River
• Aging infrastructure and deteriorating conditions
Some of the equipment and infrastructure date back to the 1950s. Upgrades were done in the mid-1970s and again in 1996.
Councilwoman Tammy Woods questioned funding for the project.
Public Utilities Director Aaron Reinhart said it will be a combination of zero-interest loans from the Ohio Public Works Commission and Water Pollution Control Loan Funds, Community Development Block Grants through HUD, and OPWC credit enhancements.
Council members voted 6 to 1 to apply for, accept and enter into an agreement with the WPCLF. Woods voted no.
“I am still questioning how the scope grew, under what authority the scope grew, and the $45 million project and what that could do to rates?” she asked.
“But I know it will pass, and I hope it passes because we need it.”
Mayor Matt Starr said part of the increased cost is because the 2014 project did not include a lot of the facilities’ work. Higher construction costs also contributed to the higher price tag.
Council President Bruce Hawkins likened the project to the city’s decision to build Hiawatha Water Park.
“We’re glad we did it, but there was a controversy on council at that time about should we do something we know is going to lose money,” Hawkins said. “So we have to decide what’s good for the city.
“We know we need this,” he continued. “My suggestion is if we know the increase is coming, that we do a small increase sooner rather than have a big increase later.”
Land use
City council members voted 6 to 1 to refer the rezoning of four parcels on South Main Street back to the Municipal Planning Commission.
The commission deadlocked in a 2 to 2 tie and made no recommendation to council.
When researching case law, Law Director Rob Broeren found nothing specifically related to a planning commission being deadlocked and making no recommendation to city council.
However, in other cases, he discovered that the courts have held that if a case comes before a board and no one makes a motion and it dies, there is no appeal mechanism because no decision was actually made.
Following that line of reasoning, Broeren said, “Given the unknowables and lack of guidance given on this, I believe it is the best case for council to return this to municipal planning and have them get five people to reach a decision.”
Council concurred and voted to return the rezoning request to MPC. Council members canceled the hearing planned for Feb. 24.
Legislative action
In other action, council members:
• Adopted the updated five-year plan for the Delaware-Knox-Marion-Morrow Solid Waste District
• Gave a second read to two resolutions related to the Mansfield Avenue side path project: bid and contract for the project and bid and award a qualifications-based construction inspection
• Heard the first read granting an easement to the county for a sign at the Memorial Building
• Adopted legislation authorizing the safety-service director to dispose of police and public works vehicles the city no longer needs
• Approved buying a trailer for stormwater pipe cleaning
• Reappointed Sibley Poland to a two-year term on the Historic Review Commissioner
• Approved paying Then and Now bills totaling $78,089
• Authorized the safety-service director to bid and contract for construction of a salt barn at 1700 Old Delaware Road and to purchase a new ambulance for $300,000
• Gave a first read to legislation authorizing the bidding and contracting for the 2025 street resurfacing and curb and gutter projects
• Heard the second reading of a resolution affirming the Municipal Planning Commission’s recommendation not to vacate an alley north of Kirk Street between East and South McKenzie streets
Public participation
Vicki Fitzgerald reviewed the contributions of Henry B. Curtis, noting the only thing left of his legacy is a building on North Main Street slated for demolition and the Curtis Mansion, which is in dilapidated condition.
She questioned why the proposed demolition of the Curtis building and others on Public Square have not gone before the Historic Review Commission. Fitzgerald said commission members lack knowledge and expertise to protect the structures or advise homeowners on restoration options.
Kurt Hinterschied spoke about the deteriorating condition of the pickleball courts at Riverside Park.
He said the six courts planned can accommodate current players and additional growth but urged council to repair the courts in 2025 rather than delaying until 2026.
