Regular City Council Meeting
Monday, April 2, 2007
The Mt. Vernon City Council met in Regular Session on Monday, April 2, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Building at Veterans Park.
Mayor David E. Keen called the meeting to order and Council Member Mike Walker gave the invocation.
The Pledge of Allegiance was given.
Roll call showed present: Council Member Shirilyn Holt, Council Member John Howard, Council Member Mike Walker and Mayor David E. Keen. Absent: Council Member Ricky D. Heck.
The journal for the March 19, 2007 Regular City Council Meeting was presented for any additions, corrections or deletions. Motion by Council Member Shirilyn Holt to approve the journal as presented. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen. Absent: Heck.
The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for April 2007 in the amount of $679,591.99 were presented for Councils consideration. Motion by Council Member John Howard to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for April 2007, in the amount of $ 679,591.99 as presented. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen. Absent: Heck.
City Manager Ron Neibert stated that bids were received for Demolition Work at 412 Herbert, 2223 Casey Avenue, 406 S. 15th Street, 300 Caborn Avenue, 302 Caborn Avenue, 2001 Forest, 431 S. 18th Street, 200 South 10th Street and 2104 Jones Street. Mr. Neibert stated that three bids were received for the work and asked Council’s permission to open the bids. Council agreed to open the bids and the results will be reported later in the meeting.
CITY ATTORNEY
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Regarding Nuisance Liens. City Manager Ron Neibert explained that this is an Ordinance that will expedite the time on nuisance liens and the condemnation process. City Attorney David R. Leggans stated that this would help when there are other lien holders. The City can allow the other lien holders to clean up the properties before the City takes the property. Council Member Mike Walker asked City Attorney David R. Leggans to take him through the steps before foreclosure. Mr. Leggans gave the steps from giving of notice to the actual foreclosure process. Mr. Leggans stated that we could not foreclose before if there were a lien before the City. This way we can if the other lien holders are given notice and they do not cure the reason for the nuisance. Motion by Council Member Shirilyn Holt to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen. Absent: Heck. Motion by Council Member Shirilyn Holt to Adopt Ordinance # 2007-18, an Ordinance Regarding Nuisance Liens. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen. Absent: Heck.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Regarding Nuisance Fines. City Manager Ron Neibert reported that this Ordinance puts some extra teeth into the Ordinance by citing the owners and adding extra fines. The fines would begin 5 days from the date of the notice.
Mrs. Julia Miller asked if the fines would be for the City also. Would the City pay the fines on their owned properties. Mr. Rich Flores stated that he works for Mrs. Miller and he has a property that he cannot clean in the back of one of her rental properties. He asked for help from the City in cleaning this property. Mr. A. P. Petties asked about people that cannot afford to clean up their property or are disabled and cannot do the work themselves. Mr. Nathan Pigg stated that he has several issues with the Ordinance changes. Mr. Pigg stated that the City Engineer John Porter owns a property on Cherry and it needs cleaned up and posted. Mayor David E. Keen stated that he has checked and that property is not Mr. Porter’s, but his is next door to it. Mr. Walter Mays stated that there is a house on 12th and Perkins that needs torn down and it is full of rats. Mayor Keen stated that the City would look at it.
Council Member Mike Walker asked for this to be a First Reading on this Ordinance because of the concern by several citizens. Mayor Keen announced the First Reading on this Ordinance.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration three Resolutions Authorizing the Giving of Notice of Dangerous and Dilapidated Structures for Property Located at 504 South 18th Street, 1418 Wescott Street and 221 Castleton Avenue. Motion by Council Member John Howard to Approve the Resolutions Authorizing the Giving of Notice of Dangerous and Dilapidated Structures for Property Located at 504 S. 18th Street, 1418 Wescott Street, and 221 Castleton Avenue. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen. Absent: Heck.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Authorizing an Agreement between the City of Mt. Vernon and Pepsi Mid America. City Manager Ron Neibert stated that this is for the concessions for the entire City. The agreement will last for ten years with a five-year extension. Mr. Neibert stated that the City would receive a $5,000. signing bonus. Motion by Council Member Shirilyn Holt to Approve the Resolution Authorizing the Agreement Between the City of Mt. Vernon and Pepsi Mid America as presented. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen. Absent: Heck.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration an Ordinance Declaring Certain City Vehicles as Surplus. City Manager Ron Neibert reported that these vehicles are being sold for salvage only. They have been stripped of parts that were usable. Motion by Council Member John Howard to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance. Second by Council Member Shirilyn Holt. Yeas: Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen. Motion by Council Member John Howard to Adopt Ordinance # 2007-19, an Ordinance Declaring Certain City Vehicles as Surplus. Second by Council Member Shirilyn Holt. Yeas: Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen. Absent: Heck.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Reclassifying Certain Public Utilities and Sanitation Accounts for Accounting Purposes. City Manager Ron Neibert explained that this is an annual accounting procedure and because the City is declaring them as uncollected doesn’t mean that they stop trying to collect them. The water department constantly watches the accounts for any of the names and addresses on the list. These accounts are for 1/10 of 1% of the billing amounts. Finance Director Merle Hollmann stated that the accounts are watched very closely and many of them are collected. Motion by Council Member Mike Walker to Approve the Resolution Reclassifying Certain Public Utilities and Sanitation Accounts for Accounting
Purposes. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen. Absent: Heck.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Approving Corporate Authorization Resolution. City Manager Ron Neibert explained that this is for the appropriate persons to sign for the accounts at Peoples National Bank. This is an annual requirement from the bank. Motion by Council Member John Howard to Approve the Resolution Approving the Corporate Authorization Resolution. Second by Council Member Shirilyn Holt. Yeas: Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen. Absent: Heck.
City Manager Ron Neibert reported on the three bids received for Demolition work at 412 Herbert, 2223 Casey Avenue, 406 S. 15th Street, 300 Caborn Street, 302 Caborn Street, 2001 Forest Avenue, 431 S. 18th Street, 300 S. 10th Street and 2104 Jones Street. The bid results are as follows:
CONTRACTOR Rollie Excavation Kenneth Hails Big Muddy Svcs
412 Herbert $3,250.00 $1,900.00 $3,790.00
2223 Casey 5,800.00 3,900.00 6,360.00
406 S 15th St. 8,650.00 3,900.00 6,445.00
300 Caborn 2,250.00 1,000.00 2,000.00
302 Caborn 2,250.00 1,000.00 2,000.00
2001 Forest 2,750.00 1,200.00 5,665.00
431 S 18th St. 9,150.00 4,500.00 8,855.00
3001 S. 10th St. 5,700.00 2,500.00 5,370.00
2104 Jones St. 3,200.00 1,500.00 3,150.00
TOTAL $43,000.00 $21,400.00 $43,815.00
Mr. Neibert stated that the low bidder was Kenneth Hails and his recommendation was to accept the low bid from Kenneth Hails for these demolitions. Motion by Council Member John Howard to Approve the low bid of Kenneth Hails for the demolitions of the nine properties named. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen. Absent: Heck.
Mayor David E. Keen read a Proclamation for National Telecommunicator’s Week the week of April 9th through the 13th.
Mayor Keen announced that Randy Tucker at EMC had recently won a prestigious award the George W. Berk Safety Award for the Treatment Plant.
Mayor Keen stated that Mr. A.P. Petties had a very good turn out for the Easter Egg Hunt held on Saturday. Mr. Petties asked if there was any way the City could help them get a shelter built for Dawson Park. He stated that the egg hunt got finished in time before the rains, but it would be nice if there were one for the park use.
Council Member Mike Walker stated that he wanted to thank Police Chief Mendenall and his men for the recent drug bust activity and domestic dispute problem recently. Mr. Walker stated that he appreciated the department and the response from them.
Mr. Earl Jones addressed Council regarding a piece of property that he had agreed to purchase in 2004. Mr. Jones stated that he had put down $200.00 earnest money on the property and signed the agreement. Mr. Jones stated that he had the first right of refusal before it is sold to someone else. Mr. Jones stated that he owns the property adjoining this land and it is only a half lot, so it would be no good to anyone else. Mayor Keen stated that he would meet with Mr. Jones and discuss this issue.
Mr. Nathan Pigg spoke again regarding the lot Mr. Jones had agreed to buy. Mr. Pigg stated that it was when he was an employee in the Inspection Department. Mr. Pigg stated that he would like to see the City auction off the lots and sell more of them to re-coop their money. Mayor Keen stated that this has been discussed and will be looked into further. Mayor Keen stated that several lots have been sold to Cedar Point and the other company to build the new homes on.
Motion by Council Member Shirilyn Holt to adjourn this Regular City Council Meeting. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen. Absent: Heck.