MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis announced plans for the city to annex the old PPG and Lamb Glass buildings in Clinton Township, when City Council met in joint session with Knox County Commissioners, Monday night.
“The PPG building has fallen on hard times because of the loss of a large tenant (PACS),” Mavis said. “I think we can be more aggressive in getting grants to help if the property is part of the city.”
Mavis said if annexed, the property would have city water, township sewer and could either be revitalized or demolished to make it usable for private ownership. He does not anticipate any city funds would be spent on the property.
Mount Vernon City Council member Mike Hillier asked if annexed, would the property become just another “old middle school.”
“You can sit here and let nothing happen, or be part of the solution,” Mavis said to Hillier. “The American National Can property has 44 acres and we have a plan for that. Friday we have a shot at the plate. We did the right thing here.”
“There is no building sitting on it,” Hillier said, in comparing the ANC property to the PPG property.
Mavis commented that PPG property owners were given a year to put in the required sprinkler system and to this point have not yet done so.
“This plan is best suited because the city has the wherewithal to make something good happen,” Mavis said.
Commissioner Teresa Bemiller asked if Clinton Township Trustees were in favor of the annexation. Mavis said he spoke with them but they did not provide any information as to whether they were in favor or disapproved of the proposed annexation.
