With the beginning of another year, comes another list of goals for the community to start tackling in 2025.

Investigation into possibility of child care center at LBC

This is part of a two-pronged issue in the communities of Mount Vernon and Lisbon that is stymying development and growth in our area. Without child care options in the community, our younger adults and families moving to the area are looking elsewhere for their housing and schooling options. Without more children staying locally in our schools, or open-enrolling out to other districts, that impacts the funding our schools receive from the state.

Investigating and finding out the costs does not commit the city from constructing the project. It gives the city the costs of what this center would cost and if it is feasible to addressing this issue and adding more childcare that can be covered. It also doesn’t necessarily mean the city will be responsible for running a daycare, but have the ability to work with agencies who may want to run a daycare but not have the funding to build a center on their own.

That is also not to turn a blind eye from all the hard work many in this community have done on addressing this matter over the past several years, either.

Begin work on next LMI options

And the second prong to the issue in the communities of Mount Vernon and Lisbon – work needs to start now on the next low-to-moderate housing opportunity in the community now.

With Cottonwood Grove apartment complex construction likely finishing this spring, a 30 unit building for low to moderate income seniors in the area, as city administrator Chris Nosbisch has noted in meetings that the wait list for that complex is almost as long as the number of people committed to moving into the apartments. We understand that the work for this issue came forward due to grants from the state, and that they dictated the numbers that would be acceptable.

ECICOG’s housing report from earlier this summer, however, show that Mount Vernon has a dearth of options for low-to-moderate income individuals, with many housing options either outside of the price range with newer homes.

Developments in both Stonebrook and Spring Meadow Heights have requirements to fund low-to-moderate income options at some point. It’s an area where the housing committee of Mount Vernon should continue looking at options to help with the issue in the area.

Other possibilities for development along Hwy. 30 corridor

We know the development agreement with Kwik Star/Kwik Trip is coming up for  Mount Vernon City Council at this past Monday’s meeting, and will require stretching infrastructure to the west of Hwy. 1 for Rachel Street. As city administrator Chris Nosbisch said, this was needed even without Kwik Star coming to the area, as it opens up future development in that area, and projects like this don’t just happen overnight. If we’re investing in that infrastructure improvement in that area, it may be time to continue development there as well in coming years. We know it may just be a convenience store, but it is getting people to stop in these communities and the more we can do at those businesses to pitch them on other portions of downtown Mount Vernon, the better. Which also goes back to the wayfinding signage that has been on hold for the community for a few years needing more emphasis again.

Lisbon’s continued focus on parks

And this has been a perennial request for the community of Lisbon, but with bids going out for the second phase of the sports complex and the new agreement with the Pleasant Grove Heritage Park non-profit, continued development on those green spaces to the north of town and the interest those will provide is going to make Lisbon a destination spot. We look forward to seeing some of the parks and recreation events moved to those new facilities, as well as possibly some of Sauerkraut Days festivities this year for that community festival. It is a wise investment in building more recreational spaces, when the parks and recreation programs are boasting the numbers they boast year in and year out.

What are your goals or ambitions for the communities for the coming year?