Chat with Mayor Matt: Recent Episodes
Matt Starr
Mayor Matt Starr chats with different stakeholders regarding the business and activities with the City of Mount Vernon, Ohio. The purpose of the program is to provide citizens the opportunity to hear more intricate workings of city business - inside local government as well as activities happening around the City of Mount Vernon.
T**here can be a special relationship between the arts community and the local government. In previous episodes, we have spoken about the performing arts. This episode focuses on the visual arts in our community.
Our partners at Kenyon College and Gund Gallery sat down with Mayor Matt in City Hall to talk about the creative avenues Kenyon, The Gund, and The Annex are providing residents to exercise their creative muscle.**
Guests include Daisy Desrosiers who joined The Gund as Director and Chief Curator in June 2021 often collaborating with faculty, students, and staff to offer programs and exhibitions that foster curiosity toward new ideas, people, and experiences. Daisy earned a bachelor’s degree in art history from the Université de Montréal and a master’s degree in art history from the Université du Québec à Montréal.
Also, Wynne Morgan brings a passion for community organizing and contemporary art to her role as Coordinator of Engagement and Public Programs for The Annex. She facilitates programming at The Gund’s experiential arts-learning space in downtown Mount Vernon and fosters collaborative connections between local partners, Knox County residents, and the Kenyon community.
Mayor Matt Starr visits with different community leaders in Mount Vernon, Knox County, and within the State of Ohio to discuss issues relevant to the quality of life and the economic, social, and cultural sustainability of the community.
Continuing with our series on the Arts in Mount Vernon and more importantly, the relationship between the arts community and local government, we focus our attention on a brand awareness of entertainment known as Mount Vernon Presents.
**The Mount Vernon Arts Consortium (MVAC) team members discuss the ins and outs of developing, producing, and partnering with others to plan our 2024 Mount Vernon Presents season.
Our guests are Martin Booker who is the Executive Director, Megan Evans serves as the Marketing and Administration Manager. And Ian Fraser Ernsberger serves as the Productions and Operations Manager.**
Mayor Matt Starr visits with different community leaders in Mount Vernon, Knox County, and within the State of Ohio to discuss issues relevant to the quality of life and the economic, social, and cultural sustainability of the community.
The relationship between the government and the arts is a crucial one for thriving communities, and there is something very special happening in the City of Mount Vernon. This relationship has the potential to stimulate
- creative problem-solving,
- provide meaningful and authentic community engagement, and
- increase a sense of belonging.
One company who has been doing this for a long time in Mount Vernon is MTVarts' Producer and Business Director, Janis Stone, and Creative/Artistic Director, Bruce Jacklin .
Today's discussion:
- why the arts are so important to our community, and
- what opportunities are there to get involved in the arts
Mayor Matt Starr visits with different community leaders in Mount Vernon, Knox County, and within the State of Ohio to discuss issues relevant to the quality of life and the economic, social, and cultural sustainability of the community.
Mayor Matt chats with Ora Smith and Afet Kilinc of the Freedom Center in Mount Vernon. The Freedom Center provides quality behavioral healthcare, and prevention education for children, adolescents, and adults.
Addiction and mental health are two issues that are interrelated. Persons experiencing trauma on top of these other two issues requires a community to come together for solutions.
Recently, the Freedom Center purchased a building downtown in Mount Vernon and plans to move therapy and education sessions to that location while renovating their current location to a recovery house. To do so, the Freedom Center is accepting tax-deductible donations to cover a matching pledge up to $300,000 for the costs.
Interested parties may visit https://freedomctr.net to make donations.
Mayor Matt Starr visits with different community leaders in Mount Vernon, Knox County, and within the State of Ohio to discuss issues relevant to the quality of life and the economic, social, and cultural sustainability of the community.
Nanette DuMont is a transplant to Mount Vernon and a volunteer with Dogs of Knox Fund which helps raises funds for the Knox County Dog Shelter. Denise Gamez is a 1988 graduate of Mount Vernon High School and is part of a foundation she and her husband, PGA Golf Pro Robert Gamez. Team Gamez Foundation helps support scholarships for different charities supporting children and animals.
July 30, 2022 marks the 2nd annual Puppy PAWlooza event at BDK Event Center east of Mount Vernon on Coshocton Road. The event hosts a musical line-up of local and national artists along with a silent auction.
Nanette and Denise discuss why the Dogs of Knox County fund is so important to the both of them. Also, they get into how the commitment, dedication, and love the volunteers have of the Knox County Dog Shelter can boast such an impressive success record of adoptions.
Their purpose is to provide the Knox County Animal Shelter with support in rescuing unwanted, abused, and neglected dogs and to provide for their medical needs so they will not be euthanized. Dogs of Knox Fund Inc. locates rescues for unwanted stray, neglected and abused dogs and assists in providing shelter, food and care for their needs until the dogs are placed in homes through adoption.
Relevant information for the event is:
https://teamgamez.org/events/puppy-pawlooza/
Facebook: 2nd Annual Puppy PAWlooza Music Festival
Online Auction: https://app.galabid.com/puppyPAWlooza22
In this episode, Mayor Matt speaks with Matt Baugher from the Delaware, Knox, Marion, Morrow (DKMM) Solid Waste District on all things recycling and waste hauling. Specifically, they talk about
- the role DKMM has in the City
- negotiated deals with approved trash haulers
- free curb side recycling for City residents
- issues facing residents regarding trash hauling logistics
- the relocation of recycling bins from the Park and Ride / Memorial Park to Opportunity Knox on Coshocton Road
- Knox County Clean Up Day
- new investments in recycling - adding new items to what can be recycled
For accepted recyclable lists, current events and recycling FAQs, please visit:
https://co.knox.oh.us/recycling-and-litter-prevention/
For questions: Matt Baugher, Program Manager, Knox County Recycling and Litter Prevention 740-393-6704 matthewbaugher@co.knox.oh.us
Mayor Matt chats with Brittany Coon, Public Outreach Coordinator from Knox DD and Sherrie Simmons, Provider Relations Manager for Knox DD regarding a new program aimed to help individuals learn how to cook simple recipes through videos.
Easy Eats is a cooking show that highlights affordable, easy to follow and tasty dishes that anyone can make! It was made to help people with disabilities learn to be comfortable in their kitchens and learn easy ways to cook at home, but is for anyone that wants to learn a new recipe. The team started with a few of Knox DD staff hosting the cooking show, then grew to people with disabilities and community members.
Through our Healthy Living Initiative, it is our hope that we can help make the healthy choice the easy choice and help people understand how to balance everything in their lives to live a wonderful and healthy life!
Useful Links:
https://www.knoxdd.com/easy-eats
https://www.knoxdd.com/healthy-living
https://www.facebook.com/KCBDD
https://www.instagram.com/knox_dd
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4km5N6UCoZqqs9jkUqQhDg
Wrapping the series on domestic violence awareness, City of Mount Vernon Law Director, Rob Broeren, Assistant Law Director, Brittany Whitney, and Client Advocate, Ellie Cline discuss the City's role in handling domestic violence cases, identify how the City Law Office staff are helping victims become survivors, and outline how their work with other agencies in the community are helping to protect those who are affected by domestic violence, stalking and intimidation, and those who feel powerless in those kinds of situations.
"If you see something, say something," says our panelists. You don't have to be the victim to report the violence. If the situation warrants immediate attention and is an emergency, call 9-1-1. Those who aren't sure may reach out to the City's Law Office at (740) 393-9562.
Ohio Secretary of State, Frank LaRose, joins Mayor Matt to discuss the Safe At Home Program through the State. The Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program was created by Substitute House Bill 359 (131st General Assembly) to assist victims and survivors of domestic violence, stalking, human trafficking, rape, or sexual battery by shielding their personal information from public record and providing them with a safe and secure way to participate in our democratic process.
The substitute address is intended to help program participants shield their address from public records. Additionally, Safe at Home allows a program participant who is eligible to vote to register without his/her voter registration record appearing in public voter registration lists, and to vote absentee without his/her residence address being compromised.
Victims must apply in person to participate in the program only through a certified Application Assistant. An Application Assistant is defined in the law as “…an employee or volunteer at an agency or organization that serves victims of domestic violence, menacing by stalking, human trafficking, trafficking in persons, rape, or sexual battery who has received training and certification from the secretary of state to help individuals complete applications to be program participants.” (R.C. 111.41(A))
Contact information at the Secretary of State is at:
- Ohio SOS Office: SafeAtHomeOhio.gov. 614.995.2255
- New Directions: NewDirectionsShelter.org. 740.397.4357
- Knox County Prosecutor's Office: www.co.knox.oh.us/offices/prosecutor/victim.asp**
740.397.3404**
Mount Vernon Mayor, Matt Starr, talks with Lori Jones-Perkins, executive director of New Directions; Jackie Peck, an advocate for the organization; and Knox County Recorder Tanner Salyers about domestic violence awareness and New Directions' services to the community in the areas of domestic violence, sexual assault, and legal and youth services. Lori works with nine staff members and a 13-member board of directors to carry out New Directions' mission, while Jackie works with shelter residents and facilitates domestic violence support groups. Salyers' office offers a Safe at Home program for survivors of domestic violence.
The guests discuss working with survivors of domestic violence and share their success stories in the field. They talk about how essential entities like New Directions and programs like Safe at Home are to the Mount Vernon community, and what's involved in helping survivors of domestic abuse move on with their lives.
Mount Vernon Mayor, Matt Starr, talks with Knox County Recorder, Tanner Salyers, about a new program for Knox County called PropertyCheck. This program helps protect residents against fraudulent activities relating to their property and alerts residents when official documents are recorded on their property.
Any activity associated with the name of a person, an address, or a parcel number triggers an alert via email or text message. The service eliminates the time residents would have to spend doing their own search on their name or property. However, PropertyCheck will not stop potential fraud; rather, it is an alert system that sends out alerts for legitimate filings as well as potential fraud items. This program works very similarly to a bank fraud alerts, will not stop a transaction but will alert the account holder of suspicious activity and the account holder can verify if they were the ones that initiated the transaction.
In this episode, Mayor Matt chats with Festival Co-Directors, Joe Bell and Trina Trainor along with Board Member Joe Rinehart to review the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival which takes place Friday, August 13, Saturday, August 14, and Sunday, August 15 in downtown Mount Vernon. (A special kickoff fundraiser is scheduled for Thursday evening (8/12) where the Cleveland Keys are performing in historic Woodward Opera House.
Other activities planned are "Chalk the Block" which will showcase various visuals artists who will create chalk art on South Main Street, a Kids Zone, a local performing artist's tent, vendors, and of course food.
This year has a new design to the festival, and the Main Stage will move to the North Main Street/Public Square intersection between The Makery and City Hall. Friday night, Six Miles to Nellie performs as the headliner. On Saturday, Phil Dirt & the Dozers take the stage.
On Sunday, the Cruise-In, cheerleading showcase, and art show continues. Volunteer opportunities are available - the Festival needs help to put on this free event. Title sponsors are Ariel, Park National Bank, and Mid-Ohio Powersports.
More information is located at www.mvmaf.org.
Mayor Matt speaks with Nathan Smith of Bird Scooters about the new wave of transportation that has arrived in Mount Vernon.
In this episode, Nathan discusses:
- Why have scooters anyway in Mount Vernon?
- What is the purpose of scooters in our overall transportation options?
- What are the rules and laws that apply to using scooters?
- Where will they go and how do you begin using one?
Nathan also will answer any follow up questions you may have and can be reached at columbusscooters.com.
Mayor Matt discusses the Neighborhood Watch program in the City of Mount Vernon. Guest Guy Hager engineered the organization starting with his neighborhood. Since then, the Neighborhood Watch has expanded to the entire City (within city limits).
Information from mountvernonneighborhoodwatch.com outlines their mission and reason for beginning the program (which has roots dating back almost 50 years).
Neighborhood Watch, founded in 1972, is the nation’s premier crime prevention and community mobilization program. It unites law enforcement agencies, private organizations, and individual citizens in an effort to reduce crime and improve local communities. Visible signs of the program are seen throughout America on street signs, window decals, community block parties, and service projects.
The Mount Vernon Neighborhood Watch group, founded in 2020 in partnership with the Mount Vernon Police Department, allows volunteers to get involved in several ways:
- Perform patrols in personal vehicles
- Watch from home
- Help in administration and communication
For more information about the program or to become a volunteer, email: info@mountvernonneighborhoodwatch.com
Zoning law can be confusing in any municipality. In this episode, Mayor Matt discusses permits with City Development Services Manager, Lacie Blankenhorn,
- What necessitates a permit?
- What kind of permits are there and what situation dictates the type of permit you need?
- How do we go about getting a permit?
- What is the process?
- And Where can we find more information about permits in the City of Mount Vernon?
Information for the City of Mount Vernon's permits are found at this link:
Sign Permits
Zoning Permit
City of Mount Vernon General Documents Library
City of Mount Vernon Zoning Code
Emily Morrison, Community Relations Coordinator for the Mental Health and Recovery Board for Licking and Knox Counties, joins Mayor Matt for a discussion on how the agency's providers are handling mental health issues during the Covid-19 pandemic. Call volume is higher to the crisis call center (211) as well as the national hotline. In today's episode, Emily points out some programs that can help provide support to persons in crisis as well as to persons who know of someone in crisis but do not know how to help them.
Additional information for this program:
QPR- Question, Persuade, Refer
This 2-2.5 hour program teaches you to recognize the warning signs of suicide, how to approach someone, how to get them to agree to care, and how to refer them into services.
“Not So Different”
This is a 2.5-hour program that gives you an intimate look at the services available in Licking and Knox Counties for mental health and addiction. We will watch a movie about a young woman who has a dual diagnosis and watch as she navigates into recovery. Discussion will center on resources, stigma, and how to support those who are struggling.
Mental Health First Aid
This is an 8 hour training that goes in depth about mental illness and addiction, what to look for, how to properly assess the situation and approach a person in crisis, and how to refer them into the services they need.
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Mayor Matt discusses the 2021 wastewater utility project list for the City of Mount Vernon. City utility customers have been inquiring about specific projects and related costs which will have an impact on their utility bill. Rising fixed costs, aging infrastructure at the wastewater treatment plant and sanitary lines, and federal EPA mandates have brought the current rate into question regarding the sustainability of the utility.
More information on the Mount Vernon wastewater utility is found at http://www.mountvernonohio.org.
City of Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr discusses the myths and facts about the Covid 19 vaccinations now on the market. Dr. Barry George, Cardiologist at Knox Community Hospital and member of the Knox Board of Health along with Health Commissioner Julie Miller of Knox Public Health delve deep into what you need to know about the vaccine. Who should get the vaccine and who should not? What side effects are there? What misinformation is circulating? How do you find out more about the vaccine? And, yes, it is your choice whether or not to get the vaccine.
Useful links to this topic are found at www.cdc.gov and www.coronavirus.ohio.gov