Regular City Council Meeting
February 6, 2006
The Mt. Vernon City Council met in Regular Session on Monday, February 6, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Building at Veterans Park.
Mayor Milton R. Sees called the meeting to order and Reverend David Eadie of First United Methodist Church gave the invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was given.
Roll call showed present: Council Member John Howard, Council Member David E. Keen, Council Member Mike Walker and Mayor Milton R. Sees. Absent: Council Member Ricky D. Heck.
The journal for the January 17, 2006 Regular City Council Meeting was presented for any additions, corrections or deletions. Motion by Council Member David E. Keen to approve the journal for the January 17, 2006 Regular City Council Meeting as presented. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Howard, Keen, Walker and Sees. Absent: Heck.
The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for February in the amount of $868,670.06 were presented for Council’s consideration. Motion by Council Member John Howard to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for February in the amount of $868,670.06 as presented. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Howard, Keen, Walker and Sees. Absent: Heck.
City Manager Roy L. Payne stated that bids had been received for flooring for the Rolland W. Lewis Community Building at Veterans Park. Wes Plummer of the Park Department presented the bids. Mr. Plummer stated that two bids were received and opened on February 3, 2006. The bids were done in three parts and a total. The base bid is for the main hall, the Alternate 1 bid is for the small meeting room and the Alternate 2 is for carpeting for the office. The bids were as follows:
East Side Lumber:
BASE Alt 1 ALT 2 TOTAL
$16,317.19 $ 2,313.68 $ 1,180.99 $19,811.86
One Stop Flooring:
$ 9,974.68 $1,329.84 $ 855.15 $12,159.67
Mr. Plummer stated that there was $7,471.00 remaining in the budget after the painting of the building. The bid would put the budget $ 4,688.00 over budget. Mr. Plummer stated that there is reserve in fund # 290 to cover the overage amount. City Manager Roy L. Payne stated that staff is recommending the acceptance of the low bid from One Stop Flooring in the amount of $12,159.67. Mr. Payne stated that Mr. Plummer, he and Finance Director Merle Hollmann could make budget adjustments to cover the amount of overage. Mr. Plummer stated that the time frame for the work would be a week in March that the building would not be booked out. Motion by Council Member David E. Keen to accept the low bid from One Stop Flooring for flooring for the Rolland W. Lewis Community Building at Veterans Park in the amount of $12,159.67. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Howard, Keen, Walker and Sees. Absent: Heck.
City Manager Roy L. Payne stated that bids were received for Items at the Brennan Klein Field at Lincoln Park. Mr. Payne stated that Brian Edmison, Architect would present the bids received. Mr. Edmison stated that there were three bids received for this project and the bid was broken down into three packages. The bids received were as follows:
Package Package Package TOTAL W ALT.
One Two Three
Lipps $266,068.00 $39,983.00 $178,208.00 $568,062.00
Johannes $307,000.00 $25,767.00 $146,196.00 $529,129.00
Mr. Edmison stated that the estimate on the job was $507,510.85 so all of the bids were over estimate.
City Manager Roy L. Payne stated that staff recommends that the bids be tabled until the next Council meeting. The bids being over budget and the project can be looked at further. Motion by Council Member David E. Keen to table the bids on this project for more information. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Howard, Keen, Walker and Sees. Absent: Heck.
City Manager Roy L. Payne introduced Connie Webb of the Employee Choice Award Committee to present the Fourth Quarter Employee Choice Award.
Mrs. Webb stated that she was pleased to announce the Fourth Quarter Employee Choice Award Recipient Kevin Sargent of the Fire Department. Mrs. Webb read the nomination letter for Mr. Sargent. Mr. Sergant began his work with the City on June 2, 1996 and is currently a Lieutenant and a Fire Inspector with the department. Mrs. Webb presented Mr. Sargent with a plaque, a City coin and he will receive a City shirt and an extra day off. Mr. Sargent thanked the committee and his fellow workers for the award and the chance to do what he loves, working for the City Fire Department.
City Manager Roy L. Payne presented for Council’s consideration a Request for Permission to Award a Contract to Todd Ham Signs for Two Welcome to Mt. Vernon Signs. Mr. Payne stated that this request had been held up by IDOT but everything has been approved finally. The cost for the two signs is $12,900.00. Mr. Payne stated that staff is recommending the acceptance of this contract. Motion by Council Member John Howard to Grant Permission to Award the Sign Contract to T Ham Sign Company for Two Welcome to Mt. Vernon Signs in the amount of $12,900.00. Second by Council Member David E. Keen. Yeas: Howard, Keen, Walker and Sees. Absent: Heck.
City Manager Roy L. Payne presented for Council’s consideration a Request for Permission to Waive Bid Procedures for Purchasing a Used Pick-up Truck for the Fire Department. Mr. Payne stated that a truck has been found. It is a 1995 Dodge Pick-up for $7,300.00. This vehicle will replace the one that was totaled, the one for the fuel truck. The insurance company has paid $7,564.00 for the totaled vehicle. Motion by Council Member Mike Walker to Waive the Bid Procedures for Purchasing a Used Pick-up Truck for the Fire Department for the Fuel Truck. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Howard, Keen, Walker and Sees. Absent: Heck.
City Manager Roy L. Payne presented for Council’s consideration a Request for Approval of the Audit Report for FY 2004/2005 Prepared by Krehbiel and Associates. Mr. Payne introduced Mr. Jim Leuty to discuss the Audit. Mr. Leuty stated that this audit is of course the numbers from April 30, 2005 and in his opinion, the City is in very good shape and there is a clear opinion on the audit. Mr. Leuty stated that the City runs a lot of funds through in grant funds. The Public Utilities Department is not as sound as some of the others, but a lot of the Public Utility Funds are tied up in infrastructure. Mr. Leuty stated that there are not any no compliance findings in the audit. Mr. Leuty stated that the debt for A & B of ‘03 are scheduled to be out of debt in ’08. Mayor Milton R. Sees asked Mr.
Leuty to speak regarding the pie charts in the audit. Mr. Leuty explained that most of the revenue to the city, 61% comes from sales tax and hit upon the other sources of income and expenses shown in the charts. Mayor Milton R. Sees stated that his point was that the expenses are shown that the City spends most of it’s funds on the health, safety and welfare of the citizens, and the quality of life is number 2.
Council Member Mike Walker asked what the reportable condition was that was mentioned on page # 67. Mr. Leuty stated that it had to do with the inventory control and a possible solution was to have a non-interested third party to do the inventory for more inventory accountability.
Council agreed to leave the audit report open until the next City Council Meeting so Council can study the report in detail. The audit will be back on the agenda for the February 21, 2006 City Council Meeting.
City Manager Roy L. Payne presented for Council’s consideration a Request for Reallocation of Funds for the 2005/2006 Budget. Mr. Payne stated that the requests would have no effect on the Working Fund Balance. The funds are all grant funds, donations or miscellaneous revenue. Motion by Council Member Mike Walker to Approve the Requests for Reallocation of Funds for the 2005/2006 Budget as presented. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Howard, Keen, Walker and Sees. Absent: Heck.
City Manager Roy L. Payne reported that there would be a City Council Workshop Meeting on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. before the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be at the Community Building in Veterans Park. The purpose of the Workshop Meeting is for Discussion Regarding the Local Funding of the Proposed New High School.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for First Reading an Ordinance Regarding the Use of Mobile Homes as Sleeping Quarters for Certain Ambulance Services.
Mr. Alan Hale, Member of the Airport Authority addressed Council regarding this request. Mr. Hale stated that the need is for the Air Evac Team to have a place to sleep while on duty. Mr. Hale stated that Chris Collins, Airport Manager and Blake Osgood of Air Evac were also both present tonight for this request. Mr. Hale stated that this action would affect the B-2 and Industrial Zonings. Mr. Hale stated that this would be done under a Variance to the present Zoning and that they have picked up the papers to file for a Variance for this request. Mr. Hale stated that this plan is used in West Plaines, Missouri for the Air Evac team and it is a great help for the program there. The mobile homes are specially constructed for the Air Evac team to use. Motion by Council Member John Howard to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance. Second by Council Member David E. Keen. Yeas: Howard, Keen, Walker and Sees. Absent: Heck. Motion by Council Member John Howard to Adopt Ordinance #2006-01, an Ordinance Regarding the Use of Mobile Homes as Sleeping Quarters for Certain Ambulance Services. Second by Council Member David E. Keen. Yeas: Howard, Keen, Walker and Sees. Absent: Heck.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Approving a 1980 Ford LN 7000 Pick-up Truck as Surplus Property. Mr. Payne explained that this is the truck that was to be replaced by the 1995 Dodge Pick-up Council agreed to purchase earlier tonight. Motion by Council Member David E. Keen to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance. Second by Council Member David E. Keen to Adopt Ordinance # 2006-02, an Ordinance Approving a 1980 Ford LN 7000 Pick-up as Surplus Property. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Howard, Keen, Walker and Sees. Absent: Heck.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Revolving Loan Request for Wingman Designs, Inc. in the Amount of $30,600.00. Finance Director Merle Hollmann spoke regarding the Revolving Loan Committee Meeting on this request. The business is to produce radio control parts for radio control airplanes. They will also be responsible for bringing in a large radio-controlled airplane show to the airport later this year. Mr. Hollmann stated that the Committee voted to go ahead with the loan to Wingman Designs, Inc. in the amount of $30,600.00. Motion by Council Member David E. Keen to Approve the Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Revolving Loan to Wingman Designs, Inc. in the Amount of $30,600.00. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Howard, Keen, Walker and Sees. Absent: Heck.
Finance Director Merle Hollmann stated that the Committee is looking into making a few changes in the Revolving Loan Agreement and Recapture Strategy. The changes would be in the employment requirements. Mr. Hollmann stated that the changes would come to the Council table in the near future.
City Attorney David Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Authorizing a Line of Credit with Peoples National Bank. Finance Director Merle Hollmann explained that this is an agreement that the City has had with the bank in the past few years, but somehow it had been overlooked to renew the agreement. Mr. Hollmann stated that the line of credit had never kicked in, but the bank asks for it in case it would be needed. There is no cost to the City for this. Motion by Council Member John Howard to adopt the Resolution Authorizing the Line of Credit with Peoples National Bank. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Howard, Keen, Walker and Sees. Absent: Heck.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Consent to Assignment of a Lake Miller Lease from Paula McGowen and Lori Hayes to
Lori Hayes and Troy Hayes. Mr. Leggans explained that this is a mother and daughter and the mother is now going to give her part of the lease to the daughter and son-in-law to build a home on the property. Motion by Council Member David E. Keen to Approve the Assignment of the Lake Miller Lease from Paula McGowen and Lori Hayes to Lori Hayes and Troy Hayes. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Howard, Keen, Walker and Sees. Absent: Heck.
Mayor Milton R. Sees stated that he wanted to thank Finance Director Merle Hollmann for keeping the City in good financial shape. Mayor Sees stated that he also wanted to thank the staff and especially the Department Heads for their hard work to stay within their budgets and make only necessary spending.
VISITORS/ CITIZEN REQUESTS/ ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE
Mr. A.P. Petties addressed Council regarding Fireman Kevin Sargent being named as Employee Choice Recipient. Mr. Petties stated that Mr. Sargent was very helpful in the fire in south town a few weeks ago. Mr. Petties stated that Mr. Sargent stayed with the family and friends and helped the person injured in the fire to get help and housing. Mr. Petties stated that Mr. Sargent is an exemplary fireman.
Mrs. Shelia Forristall addressed Council regarding the returning troops in the Illinois Army National Guard. Mrs. Forristall stated that she has a son and husband both in the National Guard. The troops will be returning after a 14-month deployment sometime in the next two weeks. Mrs. Forristall stated that there would be 128 Guardsmen coming in. She would like to have a big welcome home for the soldiers and their families. She would like the community and businesses to decorate and welcome them. Mayor Milton R. Sees stated that the City would get involved in any capacity needed to help welcome the troops home. Mayor Sees encouraged everyone to help with the welcome home.
Motion by Council Member John Howard to adjourn this Regular City Council Meeting. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Howard, Keen, Walker and Sees. Absent: Heck.