The Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission selected JMT of Columbus, Ohio, as the group to help set their updated design guideline booklet at a meeting Wednesday, Aug. 28.

A total of four companies provided a request for proposal for the commission for the updated design guideline project. Commission president Sue Astley said that the subcommittee had looked at a number of factors when selecting the group best suited for the project. Cost was only one factor the group looked at. The subcommittee also looked at the quality of work the companies had previously provided to a community such as Mount Vernon.

JMT best fit the parameters and had the lowest cost for updating design guidelines, with an estimate of $24,927.

Astley explained that the project will use $16,000 from the City of Mount Vernon and $8,000 from the Maurice Foundation. If there are cost overruns, that will come through the HPC annual budget or additional funding resources.

MVHPC’s current design guidelines were established by former member Ed Sauter. The book features many drawings Sauter used to explain the different design guidelines. The subcommittee has encouraged JMT to incorporate portions of Sauter’s drawings and discussion regarding guidelines, while also adapting lan- guage for new and updated design guidelines.

JMT could begin the project as soon as the first week of September and the guidelines could be updated by May 2025.

JMT previously completed updated design guidelines for Cedar Rapids Historic Preservation Commission.

The subcommittee consisted of Duane Eash, Randy Brown, Wade Squiers, Edith Dawson and Sue Astley.