A policy establishing water, sewer and waste shutoffs for snowbirds failed to move forward in the City of Mount Vernon.
City administrator Chris Nosbisch said that snowbirds who have routinely taken use of the policy by calling into city hall are less than 20 a year. The plan has not been formally ratified by the city previously.
Residents who took part in snowbird policies had to pay the minimum service amount for water and sewer charge fees. The new written policy would also spell out the minimum $10.50 waste fee that covers items like solid waste and right of way services (which include snow removal, leaves pick-up, yard waste and tree branch pick-up, and tree trimming).
The low number of citizens requesting this type of policy was why Nosbisch was reticent to establishing a formalized policy.
“With less than one percent of the population of Mount Vernon taking advantage of a snowbird policy, it really makes you question its necessity,” Nosbisch said.
If the city were to offer a snowbird policy, it would require citizens three months of non-service to qualify. Nosbisch said many more citizens probably are gone from the area two months at a time, not necessarily three months all at once. The reason for three months as the requirement was to create less work for city staff in managing the turn on and turn off of waste services. The city would see 48 hours notice for water shut off and restoration.
Council sets public hearing for GutschmidtThe council set a public hearing for Eric Gutschmidt’s project on a Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery in-fill housing application for Dec. 19. Gutschmidt had presented plans for the building ahead of the hearing at the Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission meeting Saturday, Dec. 3. The commission did not provide a certificate for the project, citing not enough information on the project was ready in the timetable for applying.