Mount Vernon residents reminded of golf cart registration

By Lois Mittino Gray

With the balmy Spring weather setting in, Mount Vernon residents are taking to the streets in their golf carts. Mount Vernon Police Captain Korben Sellers reminded citizens at the April 16, meeting of the Mount Vernon Board of Public Works and Safety that these golf carts are required to be registered and inspected every year. It is a mandatory requirement if they will be driven inside city limits. Captain Sellers said normally they start registering them at the first of the year in January, but people tend to do it as the weather warms up and they are used more.

“The police department is receiving several complaints about unregistered golf carts and children driving them recklessly in neighborhoods,” Captain Sellers told Board members during the Department Reports.

He also stated for the period of April 2 through April 15, there were 222 total calls for service. Of these, 83 traffic stops were conducted and four traffic collisions were investigated. There were nine individuals arrested on 15 different charges including six drugs, six warrant, two Operating While Intoxicated, and one reckless driving.

Sellers was delighted to announce there is a new officer on the force, Noah Manna. His first day will be April 18. He will be put through full FTO period; and has already completed numerous hours of training that is required by MVPD, doing it on his own time. Mount Vernon Police Chief Justin Rutledge will be attending the Police Chief’s Executive Training Program which is mandatory at ILEA from April 19 through April 26, 2026.

Mount Vernon Fire Chief Robert Wilson reported, since the last meeting, there were 43 calls for service. One was a mutual aid structure fire; two were fire alarms; two were fire investigations; two gas leaks; and one motor vehicle accident with injury. This past Monday, two Mount Vernon firefighters attended a training session with Black Township covering high angle rescue at BWXT. His firefighters had fun taking the Fire Pup to Cape Head Start. “They took lots of pictures and we passed out fire prevention packets and fire helmets to the children and families. It was a good time!”

Wastewater Treatment Superintendent Curtis Prater provided the following report for the month of March. Personnel received two hours of training completed with a PPE audit and .75 hours of one on one individual training. He discovered his employees had hard hats that were expired and should be put out of service. New hard hats were ordered. When asked if hard hats actually have a “shelf life,” Prater replied they do, and it is usually about 36 months. “After that time, penetration goes down substantially,” he explained.

Two emergency repairs were completed on the gravity system. All trouble lines were cleaned and flushed and activated sludge placed in all lift stations for odor/fog control. No exceedances were reported for February and none are expected in March. 37.2 tons of dried sludge were transported to Agspread for disposal at a cost of $1855.60. March revenue for 77,700 gallons of hauled waste amounted to $6,400.

Prater’s suggested upgrades for the plant that include a Main lift station panel upgrade, started in mid-March, at a cost of $16,235.68. “The total cost savings by using K & M Pump over our normal vendor Xylem, was approximately $18,000. for everything. All upgrades have been completed and the lift station is back to normal operation,” he reported.

“We are acid cleaning the aeration tanks diffusers this week and next week as we are experiencing low oxygen transfer and higher than desired NH3 (ammonia) numbers.” Board member Andy Hoehn asked if they weren’t having diffuser issues about a year ago, too. Superintendent Prater replied they haven’t done cleaning on them since they were installed in 2012. They should be cleaned every three years. Mount Vernon Mayor Steve Loehr asked if this cleaning would be considered to be in a confined space. Prater replied negative and added there is egress and ingress, as well as the VacCon truck sucking the air out.

Assistant Street Commissioner Jim Miller said, since the last meeting, there were 24 extra trash pick-ups generating $900; $300 collected for limb removal; and $160 collected for the sale of dirt. He reported that two violation letters were sent to homeowners for their property being in violation for trash. The Street Department was awarded the Community Crossing Grant in the amount of $916,081.12; with a local match of $229,020.28, for a total of $1,145,101.40 in funds. E & B Paving was awarded the CCGF paving bid at the meeting after a motion made by Board Member David Dodd passed unanimously.

Loehr asked Miller to update the Board on Smith Road. Miller stated at the intersection of Smith and Raintree, a storm sewer line collapsed. They have Chastain Excavating started on it, but he is not sure when the intersection will be reopened. “There is a high-pressure gas line there with a huge chunk of concrete lying across it,” he said. Board member Hoehn asked about getting a barricade at Country Club Road. Assistant Street Commissioner Miller replied cars can still go to Raintree, heading west. The crews aren’t sure who actually did the original work, but the hole is also full of bricks, etc. “All of that has to be backed out,” he observed. Hoehn asked how long the culvert is and was told 300 feet. “This will not affect the house on the corner,”Miller noted. The Board then acknowledged this was an emergency repair for public safety, since Chastain was called in without going through the bid process.

Code Enforcement/Officer Colton Givens stated since the last meeting, there were five abandoned vehicle cases opened, and five closed; nine weed cases opened, and three closed.

Under Audience Activity, Denny Holtzclaw, representing the Mount Vernon Eagles, told Board members they are having a cornhole tournament and concert on April 25. The concert will be held outside if it doesn’t rain, until 11 p.m. He was told to come to the meeting because the city ordinance indicates 10 p.m. is the latest hour allowed for outside music. Board member Hoehn stated he would like them to confirm with the Landing that the housing area will have no big issues with this. Mayor Loehr agreed and added that Holtzclaw should reach out to Mrs. Carr, Manager at the Landing. A motion to allow the concert to go until 11:00 p.m., with the stipulation that they reach out to the Landing beforehand, carried unanimously.

Under New Business, Loehr said mosquito spraying was brought up at the Council meeting the night before. As a result, Jim Miller brought in the MSDS sheet on what the city uses for mosquito spraying. “Basically, it is plant based and not harmful to humans, but it is to bees. Does the Board want the street department to hold off on spraying?” he queried. Board member Hoehn replied that what the city uses is derived from chrysanthemums and the chemical in question is pyrethrins. Dodd stated he is no expert so he would like to do some more research. Mayor Loehr asked if that means the Board wants them to pause spraying.

At first, Hoehn replied yes. “Just because it is organically derived from flowers doesn’t mean it isn’t harmful. Not only are there concerns from West Nile, but mosquitoes do cause heartworms in dogs, which would be a bigger issue. There is a lot more we need to know,” he opined. Superintendent Prater added the Wastewater Treatment Plant has a mosquito survey, and they have tested positive for West Nile, in the city, though pretty minute. Board member Hoehn asked who they could contact at the State level? Prater replied the State Board of Health would be one. “They are the ones who do the survey.”

Dodd stated he feels they should continue with the spraying but investigate – there are hazards either way. Mayor Loehr stated New Harmony is getting ready to start their spraying today. Dodd observed there seems to be no satisfying conclusion. Mayor Loehr agreed and added maybe the reason they have had no issues with West Nile is because they DO spray for mosquitoes. Dodd moved the street department continue to spray as they investigate the action further. The motion carried. Board member Hoehn stated he wants the street department to check, recheck, double check, and verify that they are in compliance.

Loehr stated last night Andy Weintraut presented an option through Keystone Konnect to compile an entire driver schedule/manual. “It sounds good and I feel it is worth the money to get the city consistent across the page and included in the employee handbook. This came about due to drivers and driving records. It will make things black and white on how we look at things,” he reflected. Keystone would create the handbook for the city. Many city vehicles also go home as well. This would outline who can ride with them, etc. As State law already bans cell phones while driving, this would put that in writing here to be signed off on.

Dodd asked what the department heads thought about it. Captain Sellers stated it sounds awesome across the board. Mayor Loehr stated there are gray areas involved. “The Parks Department hires teenagers and stipulates what they are allowed to do, etc. It is our responsibility to protect the city, as its leaders.” A motion to proceed with Keystone Konnect with the driver manual, up to $6,000. carried unanimously.