Regular City Council Meeting
March 20, 2006
The Mt. Vernon City Council met in Regular Session on Monday, March 20, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Building at Veterans Park.
City Clerk Jackie Sharp called the Regular Meeting to order due to the resignation of Mayor Milton R. Sees. Mrs. Sharp stated that the first order of business was to elect a Mayor Pro Tem and stated that nominations were now open. Motion by Council Member David E. Keen to nominate Council Member Ricky D. Heck as Mayor Pro Tem for tonight's meeting. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
Mayor Pro Tem Ricky D. Heck called the Regular Meeting to order. The Invocation was given by Reverend Jerry F. VanHoutin, Sr. of Victory Christian Center. The Pledge of Allegiance was given.
Roll call showed present: Mayor Pro Tem Ricky D. Heck, Council Member John Howard, Council Member David E. Keen and Council Member Mike Walker.
The Journal for the March 6, 2006, Regular City Council Meeting was presented to Council for any additions, deletions or corrections. Motion by Council Member David E. Keen to approve the journal for the March 6, 2006, Regular City Council Meeting as presented. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for March 2006 in the amount of $ 948,295.56 were presented for Council’s consideration. Motion by Council Member John Howard to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for March 2006 in the amount of $ 948,295.56 as presented. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
City Manager Roy L. Payne stated that bids had been received for fence work at Fairmont Park. Mr. Payne asked Wes Plummer of the Park Department to present the bid results. Mr. Plummer stated that only one bid was received from Terrace Fence Company of Marion, Illinois in the amount of $ 4,215.16. Mr. Plummer stated that this is below the estimated amount of $6,500.00 to $7,200.00 and staff recommends the acceptance of the bid from Terrace Fence Company. The City crew will install the fencing. Motion by Council Member David E. Keen to accept the low bid from Terrace Fence Company in the amount of $ 4,215.16 for the fencing at Fairmont Park. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
City Manager Roy L. Payne spoke regarding the Autumn Ridge Subdivision located at Tolle Road and Old Route 15. Mr. Payne stated that there are letters of commitment that need signed so he needs authorization to sign the letters. Mr. Payne stated that this is an IDHA tax credit project and the application is due in the first week of April. Mr. Payne explained that this is for the water line to the property, tree planting, street lighting and the culvert. Council Member Mike Walker asked what the total cost to the City would be. Mr. Payne stated that it would be $36,750.00. Mr. Walker asked the breakdown on those items. Mr. Payne stated that he did not have that in front of him. Mr. Payne stated that there is a cost of $9,000.00 to bore the water line under Tolle Road. Council Member Mike Walker asked why he does not have a copy of the letters of commitment in his packet to look at. Mr. Walker asked what the City’s recourse would be if the project does not get completed. Mr. Walker stated that the last time, the City asked for reimbursement from the developers if the project did not get completed. Mr. Payne stated that his understanding was that the project, being a tax credit project, it would either be all or none. Mr. Payne stated that Mr. Morrisey and the developers are present and perhaps they could answer some questions. Mr. Bill Luchini spoke regarding the project stated that the improvements would not be needed until the closing on the deal and they are ready to break ground on the project. This would be in October or so. Mayor Pro Tem Ricky D. Heck stated that this letter is for the application for the project. Mr. Luchini stated that there would be 32 single-family homes and a clubhouse, much like the homes built on the City’s south side. The homes would be rented for 15 years and then the homes would be sold. The tax credit would be used for the construction phase. Mr. Luchini stated that the money is needed, but the leverage of support is needed also. Council Member David E. Keen stated that this program is the one that the Superintendent of Summerville School spoke about and asked for the City to support several months ago. Council Member Mike Walker stated that the out of pocket expense to the City is only $9,000.00 and asked if that is correct. City Manager Roy L. Payne stated that yes that is correct, $ 9,375.00 or so. Motion by Council Member John Howard to grant permission for the City Manager to sign off on the letters of commitment for the Autumn Ridge Subdivision as requested. Second by Council Member David E. Keen. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the Second Reading of an Ordinance Authorizing the Execution of a Lake Jaycee Lease with King City Saddle Club, Inc. Motion by Council Member David E. Keen to adopt Ordinance # 2006-06, an Ordinance Authorizing the Execution of a Lake Jaycee Lease with the King City Saddle Club, Inc. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the Second Reading of an Ordinance Granting a Conditional Use for a Home Daycare for Property at 431 South 21st Street. The petitioning party is Kerry and Curtis Estes. Mr. and Mrs. Estes were present to answer any questions. Mayor Pro Tem Ricky D. Heck asked if there were any objectors to this action. Mrs. Estes stated that there were no objectors. Motion by Council Member John Howard to adopt Ordinance # 2006-07, an Ordinance Granting a Conditional Use for a Home Daycare for Property at 431 South 21st Street for Petitioning Party Kerry and Curtis Estes. Second by Council Member David E. Keen. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance to Rezone Property Located at 709 and 711 Perkins from Class R-2 to Class R-M2. The petitioning party is Rita and Jerry Watkins. Mr. And Mrs. Watkins stated that they would like to tear down an older home on the property and set a doublewide mobile home. They stated that there were no objectors at the Zoning Board Hearing. Motion by Council Member David E. Keen to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker. Motion by Council Member David E. Keen to Adopt Ordinance # 2006-08, an Ordinance Rezoning Property Located at 709 and 711 Perkins Avenue from Class R-2 to Class R-M2 for Petitioning Parties Rita and Jerry Watkins. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Amending Ordinance # 2006-01. City Attorney David R. Leggans stated that this Ordinance has to do with the Air Evac Rezoning. Motion by Council Member David E. Keen to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker. Motion by Council Member David E. Keen to Adopt Ordinance # 2006-09, an Ordinance Amending Ordinance # 2006-01. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Approving Changes to the Revolving Loan Recapture Strategy. Finance Director Merle Hollmann spoke regarding the Resolution. Mr. Hollmann stated that the Committee had been discussing the Recapture Strategy and some of the issues that they had were to continue to monitor the businesses for the term of the loan, not just for a year. This is to be sure the jobs created stay at what they were supposed to. Mr. Hollmann stated that the committee also spoke about the State of Illinois guidelines and agreed that the City should adopt them also. The City can also call for an annual audit and contact employees to check the status of the employment. The City has also added a 5% penalty if the loan payments are 10 days past due. Mayor Pro Tem asked if these new terms are to be adopted for current loans or just new ones. Mr. Hollmann stated that they would just be for new loans. Mr. Hollmann stated that there are two loans in the works at this time that would adhere to the new changes. Council Member David E. Keen asked if a loan were to be declared to be in default, what the consequences would be. Mr. Hollmann stated that the committee would decide the consequences but it would likely be to raise the interest rates. Motion by Council Member David E. Keen to Approve the Resolution Approving Changes to the Revolving Loan Recapture Strategy as Presented. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Approving an Agreement for Repair of Veterans Memorial Park Pool. Mayor Pro Tem Ricky D. Heck explained that there have been problems with the park pool in the last few years and it was going to be unable to be opened this coming season without repairs. There is a company that applies pool liners that are warranted against leakage for fifteen years. The wading pool will also be relined. City Manager Roy L. Payne stated that the amount of the project is $57,909.51. There are some wording issues in the contract that need to be worked out before signing, but this will allow the pool to be relined and ready to open by Memorial Day. Council Member David E. Keen stated that there are also plans to renovate the bathhouse and do some concrete work around the pool, however that work is not in this contract. Motion by Council Member Mike Walker to Approve the Resolution Approving the Agreement for the Repair of the Veterans Memorial Park Pool with RenoSys Company with the changes to the contract wording as discussed. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Approving a Sno Cone Concession Agreement at Veterans Park with Mary Mullinax. City Manager Roy L. Payne stated that this is an agreement that has been in place for many years. The City has been very happy with Mrs. Mullinax’s service. The agreement is for a two-year term, $125.00 per month for the months of May through August of 2006/2007. Motion by Council Member David E. Keen to Approve the Resolution Approving the Sno Cone Concession Agreement at Veterans Park with Mary Mullinax. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of Revenue Bonds for Goodwill Industries, Inc. City Manager Roy L. Payne stated that a representative of Goodwill Industries was present and asked that he come forward and address Council regarding this request. Mr. Walt Koch, President of Goodwill Industries stated that there has been a Goodwill Store on South 42nd Street for 51/2 years and the corporation has recently purchased 3.1 acres of land near the watertower to build a newer and larger store. Mr. Koch stated that Goodwill operates in three states and 27 counties. Their main offices are in Evansville, Indiana. The corporation does vocational and rehabilitation. In the past two years they have placed 55 disabled and disadvantaged persons. Mr. Koch stated that they have 14 stores in the last 25 years with 3 major hubs. City Attorney David R. Leggans stated that the Revenue Bonds amount would be $1.1 million. Mr. Leggans stated that there are no City financial ties at all. Mr. Leggans stated that the City has done these types of Bonds before for the hospital and others. Motion by Council Member David E. Keen to Adopt the Resolution
Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of Revenue Bonds for Goodwill Industries, Inc. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of the Mt. Vernon Motel by Downtown Mt. Vernon Development Corporation. Mr. Jay Koch, President of the Downtown Mt. Vernon Development Corporation addressed Council regarding this Resolution. Mr. Koch stated that in February, an agreement was made to purchase the old Motel from Gerald Anderson. Mr. Koch stated that Downtown Development has thought of this as a # 1 Project. The Department does have funds in their budget to purchase the motel, however there may need to be budget adjustments to move the funds around. There are two addendums to the contract that need to be approved before the closing of the contract. Mr. Koch explained where the money would come from through DMDC by the special levy in the area. Motion by Council Member John Howard to adopt the Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of the Mt. Vernon Motel by Downtown Mt. Vernon Development Corporation with the approval of the two addendums. Second by Council Member David E. Keen. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Approving a proposal by Krehbiel and Associates for a Three Year Contract to Prepare the Audit Report. Finance Director Merle Hollmann stated that Krehbiel and Associates have done the work for the City for many years and the City has always been pleased with them. The audit is a State requirement. Mr. Hollmann stated that Krehbiels has agreed to lower the costs of the audit due to the City employees having so much of the information ready for them to finish the audit quickly and Mr. Hollmann gave the three-year fee rates. Motion by Council Member David E. Keen to adopt the Resolution Approving the Three-Year Contract to Prepare the Audit by Krehbiel and Associates. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Approving an SBC CompleteLink Contract. Finance Director Merle Hollmann stated that this is basically the same type of agreement we have with the telephone company now but it will lock in a low rate for our local calls for three years. This system ties in with the Centrex System we already have. Mr. Hollmann gave the local rates and stated that there would also be a discount on other services. Motion by Council Member John Howard to adopt the Resolution Approving the Contract with SBC CompleteLink. Second by Council Member David E. Keen. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Approving a Joint Agreement between Illinois Department of Transportation and the City of Mt. Vernon. City Manager Roy L. Payne stated that this is for traffic signals at Route 15 and 12th Street, Illinois 15 and 27th Street and Illinois 37 and Jordan Street. The signals there would be modernized and updated. The total cost of the project would be $46,000.00 with the City’s share being $ 2,300.00, the State’s share being $2,300.00 and the Federal portion being $ 41,400.00. Motion by Council Member David E. Keen to adopt the Resolution Approving a Joint Agreement between the Illinois Department of Transportation and the City of Mt. Vernon Regarding the Modernization of Traffic Signals as Presented. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas; Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution of Support for Senior Housing on 42nd Street. City Manager Roy L. Payne explained that the Pyramid Housing Group is submitting an application to the Illinois Housing Development Authority seeking certain tax credits for a 100-unit senior housing facility to be located on 42nd Street. This resolution is giving City support to the Pyramid Companies to make application with IHDA. Motion by Council Member Mike Walker to adopt the Resolution of Support for Senior Housing on 42nd Street as Presented. Second by Council Member David E. Keen. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution of Support for a Housing Project at Tolle Road and Old Route 15. City Manager Roy L. Payne stated that this is the Autumn Ridge Subdivision that was discussed earlier in the meeting. This is another Resolution of Support to go in to IHDA. This would be 32 single-family residences. The project is being undertaken by Capstone Development Group, LLC. Motion by Council Member John Howard to adopt the Resolution of Support for a Housing Project at Tolle Road and Old Route 15 for Capstone Development Group, LLC. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas; Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Councils consideration a Resolution Approving a Letter of Agreement Between the Mt. Vernon Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra. Mrs. Bonnie Jerdon of the Convention and Visitors Bureau spoke in regards to this request. Mrs. Jerdon stated that this would be for performances by the Chicago Chamber Orchestra in June of this year. Mrs. Jerdon stated that there would be no cost to the city if we are successful in obtaining a grant from the Illinois Arts Council. This Resolution is for approval to apply for the grant and to book the orchestra if the grant is successful. Motion by Council Member John Howard to adopt the Resolution Approving a Letter of Agreement Between the Mt. Vernon Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra. Second by Council Member David E. Keen. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.
MAYOR
Mayor Pro Tem Ricky D. Heck presented a Proclamation Declaring the month of April as Child Abuse Month. Mrs. Theresa Williams was present to represent the Marion Office of Child Abuse Month and stated that each year they hold a kickoff for the Southern Illinois area. This year it will be held on April 3, 2006 at Central Christian Church beginning at 9:00 am. Mrs. Williams asked the Mayor Pro Tem and Council to attend and support this effort. Council Member David E. Keen read the proclamation and Mayor Pro Tem Heck presented it to Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Karen Haslow.
CITY COUNCIL
Council Member David E. Keen stated that he had just attended a NAACP Meeting and they had discussed the City-Wide Cleanup to be held on May 6, 2006 beginning at 8 am. Mr. Keen stated that there are still teams needed for this project. Council Member Keen introduced Mr. Derrick Quitsch to speak regarding the Cleanup Week or Spring Cleanup. Mr. Quitsch stated that the Spring Cleanup would be held the week of April 24 through 28 on your regular trash day. This is when CWI picks up other large items besides regular trash. There will be no yard waste pickup that week, however yard waste pickup begins the week of April 17, 2006. The pickup days have changed some this year also.
VISITORS/ CITIZEN REQUESTS/ ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE
Mr. Horton Petties addressed Council regarding the new homes to be built on Route 15 and also on 42nd Street. Mr. Petties stated that he hoped the contractors would use local men for some of the jobs. Mr. Petties also stated that regarding the Revolving Loan Program that he would like for them to be made to hire minorities when they get these loans. Mr. Petties also stated that he hopes the City gets a new high school.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Council Member John Howard to adjourn this Regular City Council Meeting. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Heck, Howard, Keen and Walker.