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COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Mount Vernon City Council
Committee Meeting Schedule
April 28, 2025
6:30-6:45 p.m. Police Department hourly employees Employee & Community Relations Woods
6:45-6:54 p.m. Knox County Comprehensive Plan Land Use & Development Keener
6:55-7:15 p.m. Public hearing: Rezone of 0 South
Main
Land Use & Development Keener
- 04-28-25 Committee Meeting Schedule
MEETING WILL RECESS UNTIL 7:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
Attendee Title Status
Janis Seavolt At Large Present
Tammy Woods Third Ward Present
Amber Keener At Large Present
Mel Severns Councilman Present
John Ruckman Second Ward Present
LeNan Hager Fourth Ward Present
Bruce Hawkins President Present
James Mahan First Ward Excused
Keener made a motion to excuse Mahan, with a second by Seavolt. Motion approved by a
voice vote of 6-0.
INVOCATION
The Rev. Susan Stevens, Gambier Epworth Methodist Church and Ebenezer Community Church, performed the
invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
All recited in unison.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES - City Council – Legislative Session – Apr 14, 2025 7:30 PM
Seavolt made a motion to accept the minutes of the Legislative Session of April 14, 2025, with a second by
Woods. Motion passed by a voice vote of 6-0.
Minutes City Council April 28, 2025
City of Mount Vernon Page 2 Updated 4/30/2025 3:46 PM
RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Janis Seavolt, At Large
SECONDER: Tammy Woods, Third Ward
AYES: Seavolt, Woods, Keener, Severns, Ruckman, Hager
EXCUSED: Mahan
RECEIVE PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
An email from Samantha Scoles, 12 Parrott St., in opposition to Ordinance No. 2025-09, was entered into the
record. - 04-28-25 Scoles Letter
RECEIVE COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council accepted without comment the minutes for the Land Use and Development Committee meeting of Feb. 24,
2025, and the two Streets and Public Buildings Committee meetings, two Land Use and Development Committee
meetings and the Fire, Police and Civil Defense Committee meeting of April 14, 2025. - 02-24-25 Land Use and Development Committee Meeting Minutes
- 04-14-25A Streets and Public Buildings Committee Meeting Minutes
- 04-14-25 Fire, Police and Civil Defense Committee Meeting Minutes
- 04-14-25B Streets and Public Buildings Committee Meeting Minutes
- 04-14-25A Land Use and Development Committee Meeting Minutes
- 04-14-25B Land Use and Development Committee Meeting Minutes
LIQUOR CONTROL LICENSE
To Englefield Inc., 4 Newark Road, Mount Vernon - 04-28-25 Liquor Permit
Council did not request a hearing on a new liquor license permit for Englefield Inc., 4 Newark Road.
PROCLAMATION
None.
PERSONS SPEAKING ON MATTERS OF CITY CONCERN
Kathy Tate, of Howard, suggested the City needs a better plan for downtown parking, that the sidewalk at South
Gay and East Vine streets is in disrepair and should be fixed by the City, that there’s not enough public parking in
that vicinity, suggested that the traffic signal timing on South Main Street is off on the weekends, and advised the
City to ask residents and businesses if they think more parking is needed downtown.
RESOLUTIONS FOR THIRD READING
Minutes City Council April 28, 2025
City of Mount Vernon Page 3 Updated 4/30/2025 3:46 PM
R E S O L U T I O N N O . 2 0 2 5 – 4 2
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO TRANSFER FEE SIMPLE
TITLE TO ONE OR MORE PARCELS OF COMMERCIAL REAL PROPERTY
OWNED BY THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON TO THE KNOX COUNTY
LAND REUTILIZATION CORPORATION FOR PURPOSES OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Streets and Public Buildings: Severns, Ruckman
Severns made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-42, with a second by Ruckman. Safety-Service Director
Tanner Salyers detailed four scenarios concerning what could happen to the property parcel mentioned in the
legislation, depending on whether Council votes to transfer the parcel to the Knox County Land Bank or votes
not to, adding that the property was likely to remain a parking lot either way. The high cost estimate for
upgrading the property is $350,000, which Engineer Brian Ball characterized as a long-term fix. Salyers added
that no one has come forth expressing interest to buy the property. Keener made a motion to amend the
legislation by adding the sentence, “The property is transferred as is” at the end of Section 1. Motion to amend
seconded by Woods, and passed by a roll-call vote of 6-0. Severns made a motion to adopt as amended, with a
second by Ruckman. Motion passed by a roll-call vote of 5-1, with Seavolt voting no.
RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED [5 TO 1]
MOVER: Mel Severns, Councilman
SECONDER: John Ruckman, Second Ward
AYES: Woods, Keener, Severns, Ruckman, Hager
NAYS: Seavolt
EXCUSED: Mahan
RESOLUTIONS FOR SECOND READING
R E S O L U T I O N N O . 2 0 2 5 – 4 9
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 2025 KNOX COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN AS A GUIDE FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CITY OF
MOUNT VERNON.
Land Use and Development: Keener, Mahan
Keener made a motion to suspend the rule requiring three separate readings of Resolution No. 2025-49, with a
second by Woods. Motion to suspend passed by a roll-call vote of 6-0. Keener made a motion to adopt
Resolution No. 2025-49, with a second by Woods. Keener thanked the Knox County Area Development
Foundation for its work on the Knox County Comprehensive Plan. Motion to adopt passed by a roll-call vote of
6-0.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Amber Keener, At Large
SECONDER: Tammy Woods, Third Ward
AYES: Seavolt, Woods, Keener, Severns, Ruckman, Hager
EXCUSED: Mahan
RESOLUTIONS FOR FIRST READING
Minutes City Council April 28, 2025
City of Mount Vernon Page 4 Updated 4/30/2025 3:46 PM
R E S O L U T I O N N O . 2 0 2 5 – 5 0
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE SAFETY-SERVICE
DIRECTOR TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL AND ENTER INTO AN
AGREEMENT WITH MEDICAL MUTUAL FOR THE PROVISION OF 2025 –
2026 MEDICAL HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE; AND DECLARING AN
EMERGENCY.
Employee and Community Rel.: Woods, Keener
Resolution No. 2025-50 was given a first reading. Woods asked for a 10-minute meeting of the Employee and
Community Relations Committee on the legislation for May 12, 2025.
RESULT: FIRST READING Next: 5/12/2025 7:30 PM
R E S O L U T I O N N O . 2 0 2 5 – 5 1
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE AUDITOR OF THE
CITY OF MOUNT VERNON TO MAKE SUPPLEMENTAL
APPROPRIATIONS.
Finance and Budget: Seavolt, Woods
Seavolt made a motion to suspend the rule requiring three separate readings of Resolution No. 2025-51, with a
second by Woods. Motion to suspend passed by a roll-call vote of 6-0. Seavolt made a motion to adopt
Resolution No. 2025-51, with a second by Woods. Auditor Dan Brinkman, Safety-Service Director Tanner
Salyers and Engineer Brian Ball commented on the legislation as it pertained to the monies of the Community
Development Block Grant Small Cities Grant. Motion to adopt passed by a roll-call vote of 6-0.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Janis Seavolt, At Large
SECONDER: Tammy Woods, Third Ward
AYES: Seavolt, Woods, Keener, Severns, Ruckman, Hager
EXCUSED: Mahan
R E S O L U T I O N N O . 2 0 2 5 – 5 2
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR TO
ACCEPT THE DONATION OF A CARVED PIRATE AND PALM TREE
STATUE FROM THE KOKOSING VALLEY ROTARY CLUB; AND
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Parks and Recreation: Hager, Severns
Hager made a motion to suspend the rule requiring three separate readings of Resolution No. 2025-52, with a
second by Severns. Motion to suspend passed by a roll-call vote of 6-0. Hager made a motion to adopt
Resolution No. 2025-52, with a second by Severns. Hager thanked the Kokosing Valley Rotary Club for
donating the carved pirate and palm tree statue to the City for the Riverside Park Splash Pad. Engineer Brian
Ball added that the carving, from a tree in Riverside Park, was done by Dave Crego, and that it will be
maintained by the Rotary Club. Motion to adopt passed by a roll-call vote of 6-0.
Minutes City Council April 28, 2025
City of Mount Vernon Page 5 Updated 4/30/2025 3:46 PM
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: LeNan Hager, Fourth Ward
SECONDER: Mel Severns, Councilman
AYES: Seavolt, Woods, Keener, Severns, Ruckman, Hager
EXCUSED: Mahan
ORDINANCES FOR THIRD READING
O R D I N A N C E N O . 2 0 2 5 – 0 9
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION OF
PARCELS #66-05624.000, #66-05627.000, #66-05628.000 AND #66-05629.000
FROM R-1A – CORE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT, TO R-3 – ATTACHED
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.
Land Use and Development: Keener, Mahan
Keener made a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-09, with a second by Woods. Motion passed by a roll-call
vote of 4-3, with Keener, Seavolt and Woods voting no, and Hawkins voting yes to break the tie.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Amber Keener, At Large
SECONDER: Tammy Woods, Third Ward
AYES: Seavolt, Woods, Keener, Severns, Ruckman, Hager
EXCUSED: Mahan
ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING
O R D I N A N C E N O . 2 0 2 5 – 1 0
AN ORDINANCE FIXING THE NUMBER OF HOURLY EMPLOYEES OF
THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT; AND
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Employee and Community Rel.: Woods, Keener
Ordinance No. 2025-10 was given a second reading.
RESULT: SECOND READING Next: 5/12/2025 7:30 PM
ORDINANCES FOR FIRST READING
O R D I N A N C E N O . 2 0 2 5 – 1 1
AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE, ADOPT AND ENACT THE JANUARY 2005
REPLACEMENT PAGES TO THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES; TO REPEAL
ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT THEREWITH; TO PUBLISH THE
ENACTMENT OF NEW MATTER; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Land Use and Development: Keener, Mahan
Ordinance No. 2025-11 was given a first reading.
Minutes City Council April 28, 2025
City of Mount Vernon Page 6 Updated 4/30/2025 3:46 PM
RESULT: FIRST READING Next: 5/12/2025 7:30 PM
REMARKS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION
Safety-Service Tanner Salyers congratulated area wrestler Alex Taylor for his accomplishments at the U.S. Open
Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas. He also noted that the first Yard Sale Trail was a success, and added that
the annual Spring Cleanup will be on May 3.
REMARKS FROM COUNCIL
Severns congratulated the City on receiving $5.6 million from the State for the re-routing of State Route 13, and
encouraged voters to vote for State Issue 2 in the May 6 primary election. Woods noted that Council would be
voting on Ordinance No. 2025-10 at the next Council meeting on May 12, 2025.
ADJOURN AT THE CALL OF THE PRESIDENT
Seavolt made a motion to adjourn, with a second by Keener. Meeting adjourned at 8:19 p.m.