MOUNT VERNON — Owners of properties in Mount Vernon where felony drug activity and other criminal offenses occur could face penalties if they know of the criminal activity but do nothing to stop it.
Mount Vernon City Council Monday held the first reading of an ordinance creating an abatement process for properties dubbed a “chronic nuisance.” Under the proposed ordinance, properties where criminal activity, including felony drug offenses, gambling, illegal sale/distribution of cigarettes and certain firearm, animal and alcohol offenses, occurs can be deemed a nuisance by the chief of police. Once the nuisance notice is served, the property owner can be fined on an incremental scale for each subsequent violation of the ordinance starting at $150 on up to $1,000, as well as be charged with a minor misdemeanor.
To be charged with the ordinance, the city must prove the property owner was aware of the criminal activity and did nothing to stop it. The property owner can also be charged the “actual cost of each subsequent service by the city for a nuisance or felony drug activity for that property,” according to the proposed ordinance.
Council member Mike Hillier briefly spoke on the ordinance, stating that landlords who allow their tenants to conduct illegal activity and they “knew what’s going on, it’s going to hurt (them).”
An ordinance establishing regulations for the use of golf carts on public streets was also given a first reading. The proposed ordinance will allow operation of golf carts and “under speed vehicles” which have passed a city inspection to travel on roads with posted speed limits of 35 miles per hour or less as well as roads that are not state routes or highways.
City Law Director Rob Broeren said the ordinance leaves it up to the police to determine the fee for inspection, based on the time it takes to check over a golf cart to make sure it has all required equipment for street use.
Hillier noted that golf carts can cross state routes, though they are not permitted to travel on them. Several members of council asked that golf cart users be given specific instructions on which roads they may use, and Broeren said this will be provided in a “publicly available” map.
Main Street Mount Vernon Executive Director Carrie Hyman
Committee meetings
Some businesses do well during the Dan Emmett Music & Arts Festival, but most do not, Main Street Mount Vernon Executive Director Carrie Hyman said. Hyman was at the meeting to discuss Main Street’s revised strategic economic development plan during a 15-minute Employee and Community Relations committee meeting, but spoke on the festival weekend after council brought it up.
Hyman said that for “a few (businesses) it is their best time of year” but for a “majority, it is not a good time for them.”
The problem, Hyman said, is that spaces in front of stores are rented out to vendors. The vendors obscure the store behind them, Hyman said.
Hyman said businesses might be more open to an arrangement similar to that used for the First Fridays events. On First Fridays, businesses get first dibs on the area out front of their store. They can use the area as they please, such as putting out products for sale on the sidewalk. Or, they can choose to do nothing with the space and just leave the area to the front of their store open.
Hyman suggested that spaces could be rented for vendors in front of businesses that are not retail or restaurants.
During a short Parks and Lands committee meeting, Mayor Richard Mavis announced that there is interest in developing land formerly occupied by a car wash near South Gay Street on the north side of the Kokosing River as a river front entertainment space. The property abuts against Heritage Park, and is owned by a private entity.
Mavis said the property owners are willing to donate the land to the city. The city would make improvements to the land, then place it under the care of the Ariel-Foundation Park Conservancy, with the city retaining ownership.
Council regular session
During regular session, council heard from Williams Flower Shop Owner Lori Amstutz on a liquor permit. The state of Ohio has approved Amstutz for a C-2 liquor permit, which allows the sale of wine and mixed drinks in sealed containers.
Amstutz said her business intends to sell bottled wine, with no consumption on premises. Wine and flower sales complement each other, Amstutz said, and she often receives orders for gift baskets that contain a bottle of wine.
Councilmember John Francis had Amstutz explain how the permit will be used, because he said he got a lot of questions about it.
Mavis said the Stormwater Utility Advisory Council intends to hold a meeting with council for questions and presentation of information in June. Public hearings would be held as the next step on whether to go with a stormwater utility, Mavis said.
In other business, council:
•Approved a resolution adopting the Mount Vernon Downtown Plan as a “guide” for future development and public improvements;
•Approved the purchase of 301 W. Vine St. The property will be part of an ongoing corridor project aimed at improving traffic flows for Ohio 13.
•Held a first reading of an ordinance authorizing the sale of city property through internet auction;
•Approved the reappointment of Emerson Laird and Lois Hanson, and appointment of Christy Burson, to the library board of trustees;
•Approved Safety Service Director Joel Daniels to enter into a contract with the Ohio Department of Transportation for resurfacing work on Ohio 3. The work is scheduled for 2021-22 and will involve the paving of Ohio 3 beginning in the 100 block of North Main Street up to Wooster Road and to the city limits; the city’s share of the project will be about $85,000, Daniels said.
