MOUNT VERNON – The strategic planning highlighted in the city’s 2021 annual report provided a mission, vision, values and guiding principles to steer the city in 2022, Mayor Matt Starr said.
Stakeholders, city residents and employee surveys helped the city create the first phase of its strategic plan, which the City Council adopted.
“This is exactly the information that our departments need to begin the next phase which will be the creation of strategic goals and objectives within each department – all serving the same mission,” he said. “This is huge from an organizational standpoint and will help us prioritize projects and budgeting. I expect that phase II will help the City Council in determining their priorities as well when we present the proposed budget to them next year.”
Collaborative planning continued as stakeholders joined city staff to determine priorities for the $1.7 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
“Being able to partner with other agencies will allow the investment to reach a wider part of the community,” he said.
Childcare, separating water utilities at Cooper Progress Park, supporting programming through the Winter Sanctuary transitional housing program, a west-end flood plain study, funding a community advocate and investing in a community resource navigator were among the priorities chosen.
The city has made changes to its police policies that go beyond traditional policing. Starr said relationships were critical, which prompted the city to try new things.
The Mount Vernon Police Department earned Ohio Collaborative Certification, which brought the city up to new standards all Ohio agencies must meet.
The city hired Dan Jackman as its first community advocate. His job is to address the needs and support city residents with trauma, mental health and addiction afflictions instead of arresting them.
A lateral transfer policy improved the department’s recruiting efforts. Officers from other law enforcement agencies who get hired keep seniority and even leave balances.
School Resource Officer Jeremiah Armstrong started Police and Kids (PAK) United to get youth out from behind screens in the summer.
“Continual improvement within the Police Department was our top ranked area identified by stakeholders they wanted to have us develop,” Starr said.
City Council established Community Reinvestment Area legislation for property owners to make home improvements. Costs get offset through deferment of a portion of their property taxes.
Experience Mount Vernon, the Knox County Chamber of Commerce, the Convention and Visitors Bureau and other stakeholders provided information on how a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), which permits event-based open containers of beer or wine in specific areas, could help with economic growth. The city approved DORA for downtown.
The Kokosing Gap Bike Path connection with the Heart of Ohio Bike Path was completed at the CA&C Depot at Ariel-Foundation Park in 2021.
The city cooperated with the Ohio Department of Transportation on the State Route 13/North Sandusky Street project, which Starr called essential to manage traffic rerouting. The east side of Sandusky Street is up next for a related sidewalk project from Franklin to Pleasant Streets.
“We have a wonderful and benevolent business community, so following through on these different projects helped to continue to support their prosperity as well as provide opportunities for individual citizens,” Starr said.
Just a simple thing like putting in sidewalks leads to economic and social development, he said.
“As we look to future development, connectivity will be crucial to our prosperity,” Starr said.
After 30 years of service, David Rigg resigned from the Civil Service Commission. Stepping into that role was Chip Wendt, with Myra Wilson and Emily Morrison joining the commission. Of those full-time staff members, 131 held classified positions. Promotional and entry-level examinations were held for Public Utilities, Public Works, Police and Fire Departments.
The city had 170 full-time and 164 part-time and seasonal staff at the end of the year.
The city’s new Civil Service Commission board members are working out very well and remain committed to overseeing the commission's role in city government, Starr said. The commission’s role is important not only because of the laws with which it needs to comply, he said.
“Within 8 years, we could potentially turnover over 30% of our workforce. So having a responsive and agile Civil Service Commission to provide that balance is an enormous responsibility,” he said.
Challenges for 2022 and beyond include identifying a new courthouse location, switching to an electronic purchase order system and more e-government access for residents. Meetings are being held on the courthouse site search, adoption continues for the purchase order system and the city’s utility customers have seen the introduction of a new electronic billing and payment system.
