MOUNT VERNON – The city’s Municipal Court system will conduct its second Safe Surrender Session on Thursday, Nov. 10, from noon to 4 p.m.
Mayor Matt Starr told the Mount Vernon News that Clerk of Courts Lisa Mazza said the first session yielded the cancellation of 14 warrants.
“Individuals with active arrest warrants out of this court who report to the courtroom at that time will not be arrested. Instead, they may meet with the court or probation staff or go in front of the judge to address their legal obligations,” the court system announced in a Facebook post.
“She also said … we currently have 336 outstanding warrants,” Starr said.
Residents unsure if they have an outstanding warrant can check the latest active list posted online by the court system at https://bit.ly/3t5XEn5.
Anyone with an active warrant for a violent offense such as assault, aggravated menacing, domestic violence, violating a temporary protection order, operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs or any felony offense is not eligible for the Safe Surrender Program. If they appear in court with an outstanding warrant for one of these charges, they will be arrested and taken to jail, the court said in its post.
For those eligible, their warrants will be recalled from law enforcement, and the warrant block preventing the renewal of driver’s licenses and registration will be released. They will avoid being booked in at the jail.
Safe Surrender participants should bring confirmation of their identities, such as a driver’s license, state ID card, Social Security card, Medicare card or military ID card.
Call the Court Clerk’s Office at 740-393-9510 for information Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Traffic island redo may begin soon
City Engineer Brian Ball said a slight possibility exists to have Smith Paving and Excavating back in town to redo the traffic island at Columbus Road and South Main. Starr said they would install the curb and gutter and then move onto the east side at Main Street east of Center Street where Street Department crews have been removing bricks.
He said a concrete shortage has delayed the process.
The city also has completed sealing cracks on city streets for 2022.
Parks Department adds mulch, trims trees
A lot of mulch replacement has been completed at Riverside and Memorial parks, Starr said. Trees have been trimmed at Hiawatha Water Park.
“As of Oct. 28, all seasonal employment was completed with our parks department for the year,” he said.
Street Department picks up leaves
The Street Department will continue collecting leaves through Thanksgiving, Starr said. The first pass of the main streets was completed, and crews shifted to side streets. The first round of leaf pickup should be completed by Thursday.
“There will be no leaf pickup on Friday, Nov. 11. Offices are closed due to Veterans Day,” Starr said.
In the first four days of leaf pickup, crews had collected 66 loads of leaves. Once the first round is completed, they will make a second round.
Housing Council begins work
The new Housing Council held an organizational meeting on Nov. 3. The group will follow up on all Community Reinvestment Area applications for reducing taxes owed on improvements made to the properties.
Some applications have been made. Starr said that work must be completed before the property owner can get the tax break.
“That’s by design; it helps incentivize getting the occupancy built for multi-use and then finishing the work before you start getting the tax break,” he said.
