MOUNT VERNON — Two residents voiced their concern to Mount Vernon City Council about the proposed new location for the Mount Vernon Municipal Court and City Annex building.
Vickie Kinney Adams of Martinsburg Road said her concern was the city taking over the entire northwest quadrant of Public Square and demolishing the buildings.
“I am passionate about keeping the historical buildings intact and bringing new businesses to the downtown and not destroying them, and I feel totally helpless,” she said.
Referencing earlier aerial photos of downtown, Adams said whole city blocks no longer exist as they did because someone has bought and torn down the buildings.
“We are losing our heritage left and right,” she said.
Adams said Cooper Progress Park or by the county jail would be better locations.
“I think we should try and keep our historical heritage the way it is and keep our historical downtown,” she said, adding that people cannot even enlarge a porch in the historical parts of town without taking it to a committee. “The city just seems like it does whatever it wants to do.”
Law Director Rob Broeren explained that because of the CPP’s governance structure, some fees — such as property owner association fees — are open-ended. The city legally cannot sign a contract that has undetermined fees.
Regarding the land around the jail, Broeren said the county commissioners declined to sell.
East High Street resident Vickie Fitzgerald said she supports a new building for the court and the police department, but she does not support tearing down historic buildings to keep it in the same location.
“The current location is landlocked, and any new builds should occur where structure can grow as our town grows, especially as we should expect the Intel development to impact the population of our city,” she said.
She cited several locations that she feels would be better options given the logistical traffic nightmare that demolishing and rebuilding in a location where multiple state routes converge would bring. Options include the vacant lot on West Chestnut and Adams streets, the city block across from the fire station, and the former Siemens administration building on the corner of North Sandusky and West Chestnut streets.
“The planned demolition of this [northwest] block will destroy small businesses,” she said, adding that she has been an online and brick-and-mortar small business owner. “They will not be able to survive the destruction this will have on the downtown area.”
Fitzgerald said the beautification projects of the early 2000’s and the constant renovation took a vibrant downtown from a market retail place to an occasional, drive-by-to-see-what-has-changed place.
“This planned demolition is sending the wrong message of preservation, since don’t we want to be a town that protects our heritage and history?” she said.
“Each of you are elected by the people, and we are the people. We didn’t know anything about this project. … I feel like none of you are listening to we the people.”
Sam Filkins and Julia Suggs of the Area Development Foundation updated council on the results of the ADF’s child care survey. To fulfill the county’s child care needs, an additiona 1,822 new spots are needed.
Filkins noted that while Mount Vernon Nazarene University and the Knox County Career Center graduate students trained in child care, those students go elsewhere because Knox County does not pay as well.
“We export workers who are qualified,” he said.
Suggs added that a priority is paying child care workers well so that they will create more available spots.
Michael Abrams spoke about various properties the city could use Community Development Block Grants to revitalize. Scott Savage spoke about problems he has had getting city approval to complete a pool project in his backyard.
Regarding legislative business, council took the following actions:
•Gave the second reading to a resolution authorizing a workforce development and recognition program
•Approved on the second reading the appointment of Mike Miller to the Utilities Commission
•Approved creating a vacant building registry fund to hold fees property owners pay for buildings remaining vacant
•Approved supplemental appropriations of $132,000 which will go toward shoring up the Plaza Building parking garage
•Waived the three readings and appointed Sarah Wagner to the Shade Tree and Beautification Commission
•Gave a first reading to legislation creating the position of AV tech
•Gave the first reading to legislation authorizing the safety-service director to bid and contract for the Mansfield Avenue traffic signals
•Waived the three readings and authorized the safety-service director to bid and contract for HVAC repairs to City Hall
•Gave a second reading to an ordinance creating a new “Streets” section in city code
•Heard a quarterly report from Police Chief Robert Morgan
Streets and Public Buildings
Council members discussed the Bird scooters being used throughout the city. Residents and council members frequently find them parked or laying on their side blocking pedestrian and wheelchair access points.
Eric Lyons, who joined the company two weeks ago as fleet manager, said that while he cannot control how the users leave the scooters, a crew checks every morning and evening to see where the scooters are. He has about 90 scooters in operation each day, down from 150.
Lyons said that he receives an alert if a scooter is laying on its side and that someone responds within an hour to check on the scooter.
Scooters are restricted from being on the sidewalk, Coshocton Avenue, Public Square, the bike path, and other areas. Lyons will check on the geotracking to ensure it is working correctly because council members have seen scooters in locations where they are restricted.
The original area of operation was expanded in response to user requests to access retail outlets on Coshocton Avenue.
Employee and Community Relations
Committee Chair John Francis asked Mayor Matt Starr to explain the procedure for appointing and vetting members to the city’s various boards and commissions.
Council also discussed Resolution 2022-50, a resolution allocating $10,000 toward an employee recognition program. Of the $10,000, $2,000 is slated for two events: a family day at Hiawatha Water Park and a catered holiday luncheon in December.
The other $8,000 will go toward T-shirts, mugs, and employee recognition awards.
