MOUNT VERNON – The Mount Vernon City Council approved hiring a liaison for the Community Advocacy Relations Division of the Mount Vernon Police Department during its meeting Monday night.
“This person is basically dedicated to riding with the officers to assist,” Community Advocate Director Dan Jackman said. “That’s what the purpose was, to be there, be on duty, be able to respond in real-time and help the officers help free them up, especially with domestic violence situations.”
He said a lot of paperwork is involved also that would take the officers off the road, but Jackman said he’s sure they can cut that time down with the liaison.
Police Chief Robert Morgan said that Jackman, as the director of the Community Advocate program and its first employee, has spent a lot of time making connections and meeting with different groups such as homeless shelters, Roadside Recover, hospitals and the mental health evaluation center. The liaison won’t need to do that and will spend more time on the road.
The pay for the liaison was set at $49,920, with annual raises starting at $400.
Councilmember Mike Hillier asked Morgan if he was prepared to let the person go if the funding wasn’t available in future years since the position is funded by grants.
Morgan said the city has several employees whose pay is funded by grants.
“And if those grants all of a sudden dried up, we’ve either got to make a decision that it’s a cost that we should incur to continue the program forward or we stop the program,” he said. “It’s not something I’d like to think about but it obviously is something that needs to be considered.”
Applicants for the position will be told that it is dependent on funding.
Public hearing set for affordable senior housing
The city council will hold a public hearing on June 12 on the rezoning of two parcels on North Norton Street to enable the Knox Land Bank, in partnership with the Area Agency on Aging, to build eight units of affordable senior housing.
The city is being asked to rezone 301 and 303 North Norton Street from the zoning of R-1 - Single Family District, to Planned Commercial Development District (PCDD). The proposed zoning matches the neighboring property for Heartland Commerce Park.
Knox Area Development Foundation Vice President Sam Filkins said a house at 301 North Norton was torn down several years ago and 303 North Norton has a vacant house that the Knox Land Bank is tearing down.
Two buildings with eight units of affordable senior housing will have fully outfitted apartments, he said. The Area Agency on Aging will come once a week to check in with the seniors to make sure they have what they need and to provide wraparound services like Meals on Wheels.
“These seniors can stay in their neighborhood ideally, and our rates will be very affordable,” Filkins said.
The Area Agency on Aging will also fully maintain the property, doing things like mowing grass and making sure the gutters are in good shape.
Filkins said this is a pilot project and they hope to build more units in the future.
City receives unexpected revenue
The city council approved accepting revenue from insurance and nonprofit agencies that will help fund city programs.
Medical Mutual of Ohio’s fraud and incentive program for the 2021-2022 plan year netted the city $360,816, Auditor Terry Scott said. Those funds will be deposited in the city’s insurance account.
Ariel Foundation responded to the city’s request for help with the last of the funding needed for the new Hiawatha Water Park contractor, Columbus Pool Management, with a $50,000 grant.
The nonprofit board also awarded the city $170,000 for tree plantings, trimmings and sidewalk improvements with the city’s tree partners, Scott said.
The United Way of Knox County awarded the city $1,000 to support its PAK (Police and Kids) United program. Another $1,000 will fund the police department’s assistance for individuals who are in desperate need of a night’s stay, he said.
Mount Vernon also received grant funds that had been awarded for Community Development Block Grant projects. The Stump Street-Northview Drive project received $577,000.
The city council also approved paying bills, including $155,950 to Core & Main for the iron pipe used for the city’s utility lines, Scott said.
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