MOUNT VERNON – Interns from two local colleges are making a big difference for Mount Vernon’s newest department, Human Resources, according to Director Denise Johnson.
Kate Beck, an HR major from Kenyon College, interned this spring and will return in the fall. In addition, Johnson said that Gina Lawhon, another rising senior attending Mount Vernon Nazarene University, is working in HR this summer.
“The main thing that they are helping me with is managing the new employee file system for the city," she said. "The files were originally held in their respective departments like the police department, the fire department and so forth."
She said all employee files are being collected, digitally scanned and stored in the HR Department. The interns work “like busy bees,” helping her implement the new digital file system. All employees will have access to their own files. And supervisors will have access to their own subordinates’ files, Johnson said.
The interns also help with upcoming projects that will lead to marketing pieces. That includes developing onboarding videos and the creation of recruitment videos. Those videos are a goal for later this fall.
“But they will get a good idea of how human resources works from recruitment to an exit interview,” she said.
One of the interns sat in on an interview for the Police Department and liked getting a taste of interviewing, Johnson said.
“I’m really excited about this new partnership with Kenyon College and Mount Vernon Nazarene University,” she said.
Mayor Matt Starr said the city has seen a lot of success with its interns. An internship in the Engineering Department is another success. Studies he is performing should help the city manage its energy usage, the mayor said.
Mount Vernon needs another public works tech
Mount Vernon seeks to employ a public works technician, Johnson said. A civil service test will be held on Wednesday, June 21.
Applications are being accepted, with a deadline of 1 p.m. on Friday, June 16.
Applicants with questions can contact Civil Service Administrator Tony DeIuliis at cvlserv@mountvernonohio.org or 740-392-0775. Or contact Johnson at djohnson@mountvernonohio.org or 740-462-3147.
Johnson said this role is mainly working on the city’s grounds, streets, and buildings, working with mechanical equipment, and working in the cemetery or plowing streets.
Strategic planning has department leaders planning initiatives
Starr said Johnson has spearheaded the efforts to move forward on stage two of the city’s strategic planning.
She and the mayor met with managers and leadership in all departments last week to “take that mission vision and guiding principles in the value statements and turn it into something that’s going to drive and strengthen public trust and public value with an emphasis on safety, quality, and productivity in that order,” Starr said.
As those initiatives and projects are developed, they will be shared with the public, he said. The goal is to finish this part of strategic planning this summer so that when the city enters budget season, it will help prioritize decisions for the budget.
Code enforcement reminds property owners to mow
Code Enforcement Office Greg Bemiller said this time of year is dominated by grass.
“There are other notifications that go out, but I spend a lot of my time driving around the city looking for high grass,” he said.
So far, 83 notices have been sent about high grass, anything over 8 inches high. Most of the violations get taken care of by property owners. But the city has had to mow nine properties in the last month and a half, but three-fourths of those were on vacant properties.
A total of 183 violations were recorded in the past two months for different violations from trash, furniture, cars and high grass.
“They are notified and given 10 days from the date of the notification to actually mow the property," Bemiller said. "So we don’t just run right out once we see high grass and mow the grass."
If the city must mow a property, an invoice is sent out. He said that if that invoice is not paid, the bill is assessed on their property tax bill. But most people mow their lawns within 10 days.
