MOUNT VERNON – The Housing Council met on Thursday. Its duties are to oversee the Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) applications to determine if they meet requirements for property tax abatement on the improvements they make on their investments.
Kathy Brechler was elected as chair, and John Yoder as vice chair, during the meeting.
The seven-member committee will meet again, probably in February, to review what properties have applied for property tax abatements and how the auditor’s office has assessed them.
“That will determine whether or not they qualify for that tax break,” Mayor Matt Starr said.
In 2018, Mount Vernon had eight houses built within city limits, with four in 2019 and six built in 2020.
The city also had six houses demolished in 2018, with three in 2019 and six more demolished in 2020.
Applications were submitted for 25 new housing permits in 2022, and 12 of those should qualify for the CRA program, Starr said.
The city also had 19 demolition permits issued for 2022, 47 water taps, 37 wastewater taps, 136 street openings and 25 “Certificates of Appropriateness” regarding historical homes (among key indicators of reinvestment).
“This is a good sign for the city,” he said.
City hires Reinhart as permanent utilities director
Mount Vernon offered Aaron Reinhart the permanent utilities director position, and he accepted, Starr said.
Reinhart began working as Mount Vernon’s interim utilities director on Dec. 19, replacing Tom Marshall, who resigned from the permanent position early in December.
“We’re continuing to interview for the assistant director and the wastewater treatment plant superintendent,” he said.
Experience Mount Vernon holds annual awards presentation
Experience Mount Vernon had its 2023 Investor Breakfast and Annual Award Presentation last week, with Old Mr. Bailiwick’s being named as the 2022 Small Business of the Year.
McDaniel CPA of Mount Vernon sponsored the award.
Flappers Bar & Grille was named the 2022 Large Business of the Year, which Markt Apparel sponsored.
Lisa Lloyd of the Knox County Foundation won the Walter Rudin Award, sponsored by Park National Bank of Mount Vernon.
TD Landscape won the Community Pride Award, sponsored by Griffin Insurance.
The Nonprofit of the Year was the Knox County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Open Road Renewables sponsored the award.
Todd Taylor received the Spirit of Heritage Award, which Thom Collier of e-Merge Real Estate Champions of Mount Vernon sponsored.
Tim Hortons opens on Newark Road
Tim Hortons held its new branch ribbon cutting at 112 Newark Rd. on Friday, Starr said.
The coffeehouse restaurant chain has been in Mount Vernon for 15 years and has a location at 941 Coshocton Ave.
The new location is a drive-thru-only model. He said it would add 15 jobs, including professional career positions, enabling those employees to step into leadership roles within the restaurant industry.
Street Department handles winter weather
The Street Department had seven drivers working for seven hours on Jan. 22 to deal with the winter weather, Starr said.
On Jan. 25, a storm hit Mount Vernon again. Five drivers began working at 1:30 a.m. to deal with the snow. At 7:30 a.m., all seven of the city’s trucks were out, with all roads cleared by 4 p.m. The next day, four drivers came in from 7 p.m. to midnight because road conditions were getting slippery.
Crews used about 85 tons of salt. The city has another 250 tons of salt on order.
Between events, crews are maintaining equipment to keep it in working order.
Fiber internet service expands in Knox County
Spectrum told the city that the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund is expanding the broadband internet footprint in designated homes and small businesses in Knox County.
“Over the past week, the Spectrum crews have been operating on Martinsburg Road, Murray Road and Sycamore,” Starr said.
Mount Vernon celebrates pastor
The police department held a send-off celebration for Pastor L.J. Harry, a member of the Mount Vernon Police Chaplains Association.
Starr said Harry took another job in St. Louis as a curriculum coordinator.
“He’s been a huge part of the faith-based community for a number of years,” Starr said.
He and his family ministered at the Apostolic Church on Old Delaware Road.
“He’s going to leave a huge void,” Starr said. “But again, we’re really happy for the opportunity that he’s going to have.”
