The Mount Vernon City Council extended a moratorium on new smoke or vape shops in the community of Mount Vernon for another six months.
The previous moratorium concluded in September after six months had elapsed. Council member Mark Andresen agreed with the extension of the moratorium for the next six months.
“This will give us time to vote and look at the ordinances we are tweaking,” Andresen said. “I think it’s a good idea to have this in place while we deal with those ordinances.” Andresen asked other council members to look at the language of the proposed ordinances coming before the council Monday, Nov. 4.
Council member Paul Tuerler provided a dissenting opinion. Council member Steph- anie West was absent from the meeting. The moratorium passed 3-1.
An ordinance on defining minors and restrictions on vape or smoke shops will be on the agenda for the Monday, Nov. 4 meeting.
MV receives additional grant
Joe Jennison, grant writer for the City of Mount Vernon, said the fire station revamp by MV Brews was the recipient of an additional $195,0000 in tax credits.
Those credits are on top of the previous matching grant that the project received in 2023.
Jennison said the project started under his previous job as community development director. City administrator Chris Nosbisch said that Jennison’s work as a grant writer is there to help all businesses and groups in the community.
“We understand Joe is a great grant writer, but businesses also have to contribute to these projects,” Nosbisch said.
There are forms available on the city website to help with the grant writing process and getting a request to Jennison to help with a project as well.
Pool work remains on track
The repairs to the pool are ongoing and should remain on target for completion this spring.
City administrator Chris Nosbisch said the key is the next two weeks and if concrete and decking work is completed before the first freeze happens this fall.
“If that work is completed in the next two weeks, then it is promising the pool will be open by next May on time,” Nosbisch said. “If that doesn’t happen, and the concrete work isn’t finished ahead of winter, it will impact opening for next spring.”
Nosbisch said they had already discovered the pool was not grounded electrically, and that will be corrected this fall.
There are a few other improvements Nosbisch wants made once the concrete work is completed to the deck, including work on
lighting at the bottom of the pool and work on the toilets in the restrooms that may add more to future change orders.
The project, however, remains currently on track and scheduled to be completed this fall, and the city approved the first pay application for work that has been completed.