The City of Mount Vernon is encouraging residents to participate in a public survey regarding the development and construction of new municipal facilities. This initiative aims to gather input from those unable to attend any of the nine scheduled listening sessions about the new city buildings. The survey is accessible online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z62KP3P.
Mount Vernon's economic and population growth has increased demands on local government facilities, prompting a re-evaluation of infrastructure design to better serve the city's needs. The deteriorating condition of the Plaza Building at 5 North Gay Street necessitates relocating the Municipal Court, Police Department, and other offices currently housed there. Plans include a City Hall Annex north of City Hall at 40 Public Square.
The city is considering two development models: a centralized approach with the Municipal Court/Justice Center moving to Public Square near City Hall and its annex, or a distributed model with the court moving into the annex and other departments relocating to Heartland Commerce Park. A new police facility will be constructed on Sychar Road.
Mayor Matthew Starr said, "Our goal is for the new Municipal Courthouse and City Hall Annex to address the growing needs of Mount Vernon's civic institutions while preserving the heritage of our community." He emphasized welcoming community input on aligning designs with public priorities.
Listening sessions are planned to present initial conceptual plans and gather feedback. These sessions will occur at various locations and times for accessibility:
**January Sessions** (Police Station):
- January 9: Council Chambers, City Hall, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
- January 18: Happy Bean Coffee Shop, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
- January 23: Council Chambers, City Hall, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
**February Sessions** (City Hall Annex):
- February 6: Council Chambers, City Hall, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
- February 20: Council Chambers, City Hall, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
- February 28: Happy Bean Coffee Shop, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
**March Sessions** (Municipal Courthouse/Justice Center):
- March 6: Council Chambers, City Hall, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
- March 15: Happy Bean Coffee Shop, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
- March 20: Council Chambers, City Hall, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Mount Vernon remains committed to providing modern services while retaining its historic charm and attracting investment. It serves as Knox County's seat and hosts several educational institutions in its downtown area.
For more information contact Todd Hill at (740) 393-9517.
