This morning Jefferson County CEO met at the Mount Vernon City Hall building to hear about the operations of city government. Our group heard from Nathan McKenna, Assistant City Manager and Mayor John Lewis.

We learned that the city operates much like a business. Mount Vernon is a home rule community where the Mayor and city council create a vision and direction for the community while the city managers and staff work to carry out that vision. Mayor Lewis explained that it’s a constant balancing act between your wants and needs. Mr. McKenna explained how the 9 departments function to carry out the tasks needed in the community, and how they are funded through tax revenue along with both federal and state grants. He also shared information on how to establish a business in the community- including an explanation of zoning regulations, building codes, licenses, economic development incentives, and more.

Both the Mayor and Nathan shared their backgrounds and how they ended up in their current roles. Mayor Lewis challenged the students to find a job where they never have to work a day in their life. His best business advice, “take care of your customers and they will take care of you.”

We ended our visit with a tour of the fire station where the group was able to view the facilities and chat with some of the firemen to learn the qualifications needed to become a fireman. Thank you Mayor Lewis and Mr. McKenna for hosting our group this morning and providing insight on how the city operates.