MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon has unplugged, disconnected and bagged all eight of its Flock Safety license plate reader cameras, Safety-Service Director Tanner Salyers told City Council on Monday.
“We have not received an update from Flock Safety on when the cameras will be removed,” he said. “We will inform council when we have a date, and we will do so publicly.”
Salyers said administration officials are watching the lame-duck session of the Ohio General Assembly for any movement on ALPR legislation.
However, Salyers said next steps at the state level will most likely occur in the next General Assembly and will depend largely on election results.
The city does not expect federal lawmakers to pass any law that would override local control of the technology. Funding could still change, though.
“Depending again on election outcomes, we will not be surprised if appropriation changes don’t complicate JAG [Justice Assistance Grants] grants at the local level for the purpose of ALPRs,” Salyers said.
“We do believe that JAG grants will still be available, but specifically for the purpose of ALPR access, we feel like those will likely go away.”
New equipment for public utilities
Council voted 6-0 to buy a $589,900 hydro excavation truck for the Division of Public Utilities. Members suspended the rules to approve it on its second reading.
Public Utilities Director Aaron Reinhart said the city has discussed and evaluated the purchase for about two years and included it in the 2026 budget appropriations.
The truck uses high-pressure water to loosen soil and a vacuum to remove it.
“This allows our crews to safely and precisely expose underground utilities such as water mains, gas lines, electrical infrastructure, and telecommunications without relying entirely on conventional digging equipment,” Reinhart said.
“We’ve experienced reoccurring maintenance issues with the vacuum system, water pumps, hoses, resulting in increased maintenance costs and reduced equipment reliability.”
A dedicated truck would let the sewer truck return to cleaning lines and answering backups, he said. Both trucks could then work at the same time.
The city will buy the truck through Brown Equipment under a cooperative purchasing agreement for municipalities. Reinhart said the truck should last 10 to 15 years.
Senior housing moving forward
Council gave a second reading to a plan for senior housing on North Norton Street. Blue Door Development is building it for the Area Agency on Aging District 5. The plan has fewer units than an earlier proposal and more buffer space for neighbors.
Municipal Planning Commission members recommended approval for the plan. Council will host a public hearing.
Council also gave second readings to a Riverview Park maintenance agreement with the Ariel Foundation Park Conservancy.
The council took first readings on a historic marker honoring B.B. Williams at Gambier Street Park and the sale of old city equipment. Council adopted an update to the city’s codified ordinances.
Health department launches sleep safe campaign
Knox County Health Commissioner Zach Green reported two co-sleeping deaths in the county this year. The health department will hold a sleep safe campaign Oct. 29 to raise awareness.
“As a parent, I think most of us can understand. You get tired, and that’s just absolutely devastating and horrible to hear. So whatever we can do to help mitigate that moving into the future is imperative,” Green said.
Lyme disease cases reached 180 through the third quarter, up from 166 a year earlier. Green said the trend will continue to rise.
A suspected measles case at a Knox Community Hospital site tested negative. Green credited KCH’s quick response in alerting the health department.
He also credited Brian Marvin and Scott Zimmerman of the city’s code enforcement department for working with the community to manage difficult situations and nuisance properties.
Proposed legislation in the Ohio Legislature eliminates a county subsidy for the Complex Medical Health (CMH) program. Green said the bill provides no alternative funding source.
“These families, not just in our local communities, but across the state, are already navigating some devastating times,” he said. “In the CMH program itself, we are seeing, unfortunately, families that are going bankrupt because of this and not being paid timely through state channels.”
Green said health commissioners statewide are creating a “game plan” to understand legislators’ viewpoints and educate them that the CMH program is imperative to Ohio’s vulnerable populations, especially children.
Local health officials are evaluating Community Health Assessment results to develop strategies for the next three-year Community Health Improvement Plan.
Knox Public Health received reports of six influenza A cases. One patient was hospitalized. Influenza vaccines are available.
Historic buildings
Resident Vicky Fitzgerald of East High Street asked council to adopt rules protecting downtown historic buildings. She said the city could lose more without them.
“Preservation needs a framework because preserving any building, new or old, requires constant maintenance,” she said.
“Create the rules and pass legislation which is necessary to protect our historic buildings so we don’t lose anymore.”
Fitzgerald also asked the city to help High Street homeowners who pay for Halloween candy for large crowds.
She said that years ago, many High Street neighbors decorated elaborately for the holiday. Those decorations, along with the city closing the street and promoting East High Street Halloween, drew children from other neighborhoods.
As a result, homeowners stopped decorating and handing out candy because of what became an unmanageable expense. One neighbor stopped counting at 800 children last year just in the first hour, she said.
City Treasurer Richard Stuller said the Ohio Attorney General’s office collected more than $90,000 in delinquent taxes for the city this year.
“They can pull a lot of levers and it’s working out to our benefit,” Stuller said.
Councilman Miller said the winter homeless shelter opens Nov. 1 with 14 beds for men and eight for women.
“I’m putting my money where my mouth is,” he said, adding he plans to volunteer there.
“They’re not just providing housing, but they’re actually giving people a hand up and trying to help them readjust back into life.”
