Mt. Healthy council hears tree-planting plans, restaurant owner questions late-night ordinance and receives fire department grant update

Public comment and departmental reports dominated the Mt. Healthy City Council’s regular meeting after the Metro presentation. Residents and department leaders raised community events, regulatory questions and grant awards.

During public comment, a Tree Commission member identified as Dwight invited volunteers to plant street and pawpaw trees and said the commission is awaiting word on a grant-submission decision expected next month. He also announced longtime Tree Commission member Karen Arnett is stepping down after years of service.

Business owner Devin Bill of Bell's Grab and Go told the council he learned of a Mount Healthy ordinance (he cited it as "21 19 68") that he was told prohibits businesses from operating between 2:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. Bill said his hours and last-order time sometimes run past 3 a.m. and asked what rules apply and what options exist. Council members advised Bill to meet with the police chief for specifics and explained that after-hours operations typically require a police detail provided by a peace officer; one council member said, "It can't just be a private security firm. It's gotta be a peace officer." The council did not adopt or change any ordinance during the meeting.

City Manager Scott provided administrative updates, announcing Detective Ben Jones was promoted to third sergeant and will start field training next week. Scott reported ongoing road work, Heritage Park clearing, facade-improvement efforts and a facade grant program with about $250,000 available (with potential additional funding). He said applications for facade improvements are due by Nov. 30.

The fire department representative reported combined year-to-date fire and EMS runs and described difficulty gaining access to certain tenant spaces at Hilltop Plaza for life-safety inspections. The representative said sprinkler-system problems remain under review and that the department recently learned it will receive an Assistance to Firefighters Grant from FEMA totaling about $942,400, with the city responsible for 5% of the request (about $47,100), making a project total near $989,560. The department said it is collecting vendor bids for equipment purchases funded by the award.

Procedural business: the council conducted a first reading of Resolution 25-1236, which accepts the amounts and rates determined by the budget commission and authorizes necessary tax levies to be certified to the county auditor; council members agreed to schedule two readings and noted the county deadline of Oct. 23. The council approved routine minutes earlier in the meeting (motion by Mister Young; second by Missus Russell) and later approved a motion to adjourn.

The council scheduled upcoming meetings and follow-ups: an additional Christmas Mt. Healthy meeting on the 21st at 6 p.m., a Park Commission meeting on the 28th at 6 p.m., and planned budget-review meetings in November. Several items — including the Hilltop Plaza inspection access issues and possible Maple Avenue fencing — require further staff follow-up.

The meeting adjourned after a motion by Missus Dosa and a second.