MOUNT VERNON – The city and the Fraternal Order of Police’s bargaining unit came to a contract agreement that will give every officer pay increases through 2024 and a one-time signing bonus ranging from $1,525 for patrol officers and IT to $1,760 for lieutenants.
“The city itself is going to benefit and our officers are going to benefit,” City Councilmember John Francis said.
Law Director Rob Broeren said the agreement will cover the officers’ wage increases for the next three years.
Officers received a 5% hourly wage increase as of Jan. 1. Another 2% increase went into effect on July 1. And the contract adds another 2% wage increase in 2023 and 2024.
“As you know, we had a concern there about the lack of officers and I appreciate those sides coming to an agreement to keep those officers,” Councilmember Mike Hillier said.
Ohio Eastern Star Home development approved
City Council backed the Municipal Planning Commission’s vote to approve Ohio Eastern Star Home’s plan to add 96 rental units at the north end of its property after its CEO detailed changes made to the plan to meet requests by its future neighbors.
The development will have 16 multi-unit cottages and a 102,863-square-foot building with an additional 40 units. Michelle Englebach, CEO and administrator for Ohio Eastern Star Homes, said the buildings along the back edge of the property along Eastern Star Road will be lowered a few feet and will be 8 feet further from the road.
“Now there is plenty of clearance from the wider void in the road to the back of those buildings,” she said. “In addition, that allowed us to change the grade back there so it's a little bit less of a slope, a little less dramatic of a scope than it was originally.”
Trees that initially must be removed will be replanted or replaced with purchased trees of similar height. Residential lighting will be used, Englebach said.
Trash at the cottages was another problem solved.
“We are not going to have dumpsters in those areas. They will be the roll away trash containers that we all have in our own homes,” she said.
Tree planting plan added to plat checklist
City Council fixed an oversight in its final plat checklist by adding an “approved tree planting plan” with the six other items for applicants to follow.
Broeren said that last year City Council changed the rules developers must follow to cut down trees and the types of mapping they needed to provide. By working with the Shade Tree Commission, a new set of rules was created and then approved by City Council. But they failed to include it on the final plat checklist.
“We're not imposing any new requirements,” he said.
Council making plans for pickleball courts
Councilmember Amber Keener and City Engineer Brian Ball plan to meet with the Mount Vernon Pickleball Association in August to help figure out how and where new courts will be installed at a Mount Vernon city park.
“We will only do two designs that we can really choose between which one is the better option,” Keener said. “I like the idea of doing it at Memorial Park, but I have heard different options.”
The City Council budgeted $100,000 for pickleball this year.
Kurt Hinterschied, a member of the Pickleball Association, said the city had built three courts at Memorial Park that face the sun, which is a safety issue.
He favored courts at Riverside Park for the added visibility to passersby.
A six-court facility is needed to host tournaments, which Hinterschied said will bring people to Mount Vernon who will eat at local restaurants and stay in local hotels.
Councilmember Mel Severns threw his support behind the pickleball courts.
“When we can bring people here for tournaments where we're increasing our revenue through food sales and hotels and those things, so there is a good benefit,” he said.
