Regular City Council Meeting
August 21, 2006
The Mt. Vernon City Council met in Regular Session on Monday, August 21, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Building at Veterans Park.
Mayor David E. Keen called the Regular Meeting to order and Reverend Travis Perry 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 August 7, 2006, Regular City Council Meeting was presented for any additions, corrections, or deletions. Motion by Council Member Mike Walker to approve the journal for the August 7, 2006 Regular City Council meeting as presented. Second by Council Member Shirilyn Holt. Yeas: Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen. Absent: Heck.
Council Member Ricky D. Heck entered the Council Meeting at 7:04 p.m.
The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for August 2006 in the amount of $709,151.98 were presented for Council’s consideration. Motion by Council Member John Howard to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for August 2006 in the amount of $ 709,151.98 as presented. Second by Council Member Ricky D. Heck. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen.
CITY MANAGER
In the absence of City Manager Roy L. Payne, Mayor David E. Keen introduced Mr. Donnie Hayes of the Fire Department to make the presentation of the 2nd quarter Employee Choice Award Recipient. Mr. Hayes stated that he was pleased to announce the Employee Choice Award Recipient for the 2nd Quarter, as he is an employee of the Fire Department, Mike Burk. Mr. Burk is the mechanic for the Fire Department. Mr. Hayes gave a brief rundown of Mr. Burk’s employment with the City saying that he started in 1984 and transferred to the Fire Department in 1999. Mr. Burk thanked the Mayor, Council and Committee for the award.
Mayor David E. Keen presented for Council’s consideration the Preliminary and Final Plat for Legg and Sons Subdivision. Mr. Bill Woodfall of Round Table Design was present to discuss this request. Mr. Woodfall stated that the property is on Broadway between the railroad tracks and the Hucks on Second Street. There is a carwash on the North side of the property and the Legg’s want to subdivide the property to be able to build on the South part of the lot. Motion by Council Member John Howard to Approve the Preliminary and Final Plat of Legg and Sons Subdivision as presented. Second by Council Member Shirilyn Holt. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the Second Reading of an Ordinance Annexing Property Located at 2700 Richview Road. The petitioning parties are Samuel and Carol Shillingburg and Mark and Charlene Jolliff. Mayor Keen asked if anyone present wished to speak against this Annexation Request. No one was heard. Mayor Keen asked if anyone present wished to speak in favor of this Annexation Request. No one was heard. Motion by Council Member John Howard to adopt Ordinance # 2006-39, an Ordinance Annexing Property Located at 2700 Richview Road for Petitioning Parties Samuel and Carol Shillingburg and Mark and Charlene Jolliff. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Rezoning Property Located at 204 Main Street from Class FP to Class B-2. The petitioning parties are Jeremy Sneed and David Gammon. Mr. Sneed and Mr. Gammon were present to address Council. They stated that they want to open a car sale lot at this location. There had been a car sales lot there many years ago and there had been a car wash there many years ago also. The property has been filled a lot so to keep it out of the Flood Plain area and make it usable. There is already a building on the lot. There were no objectors present at the Planning and Zoning Board Meeting. Mayor Keen asked if anyone present had any objections to this request. None were heard. Motion by Council Member Mike Walker to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance. Second by Council Member Ricky D. Heck. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen. Motion by Council Member Mike Walker to Adopt Ordinance # 2006-
40, an Ordinance Rezoning Property Located at 204 Main Street from FP to B-2 for Petitioners Jeremy Sneed and David Gammon. Second by Council Member Ricky D. Heck. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Declaring Property Commonly Known as 1201 Shawnee to be Surplus Property and Authorizing the Sale of Municipal Real Property. Mr. Leggans stated that this property has been priced at $1,400.00 and is ready to be sold. Motion by Council Member Shirilyn Holt to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance. Second by Council Member Ricky D. Heck. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen. Motion by Council Member Shirilyn Holt to Adopt Ordinance # 2006-41, an Ordinance Declaring Property Commonly Known as 1201 Shawnee Street to be Surplus Property and Authorizing the Sale of Municipal Real Property. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Adopting Pollution Control Siting Procedures. Mr. Leggans explained that this Ordinance establishes procedures and guidelines in the event an application is received by the City. There has not been an application received as yet, however the City anticipates receiving an application. If an application is received the City will be conducting a Public Hearing regarding the application. Mr. Kenneth Bleyer an attorney for CWI addressed Council regarding this and stated that he would be glad to answer any question Council may have at this time. None were heard. First Reading was held.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Approving a Host Agreement with CWI. Mr. Leggans explained that this document is for if an application is filed, the document establishes the rights of the City and CWI in the event the application is granted. Included is an agreement to maintain the road if the station becomes a regional site. The agreement also gives the City the authority to regulate some of the day-to-day operations such as the odor, pest control, etc. The agreement provides for a host fee to be paid to the City on waste other than the City’s generated waste.
Mayor David E. Keen asked if anyone wished to speak in opposition of the Host Agreement. Mr. Lonnie Buttrum of East Perkins Avenue addressed Council and stated that he lives 300 feet from the transfer station and he is against the station becoming a regional station. Mr. Buttrum stated that there are enough fly and odor problems already without bringing in more garbage to set out for days at a time. Mr. Buttrum stated that by law a transfer station is to be 600 feet from residences. Mr. Buttrum also stated that the noise issue is a problem because sometimes at 3:00 or 3:30 a.m. there are loud pounding noises from the station. Mr. Buttrum stated that the operators do not properly maintain the station. Mr.
Buttrum stated that the garbage sets there sometimes seven days before it is hauled out. Mr. Buttrum said that the run off from the garbage is very bad and could be contaminating the ground and water.
City Attorney David R. Leggans stated that Mr. Buttrum is welcome to attend any public hearings to be held regarding this issue and state his opposition again. Mr. Leggans stated that the City Council decides to approve or deny the application for CWI. First Reading was held.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Authorizing Certification for Project Performance Standards with IEPA. City Engineer John Porter stated that this is a part of the IEPA Loan Agreement for financing Lift Station # 15. Mr. Porter stated that the lift station is finished and performing great. Motion by Council Member Mike Walker to approve the Resolution Authorizing Certification for Project Performance Standards with the IEPA. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Authorizing the Giving of Notice of Dangerous and Dilapidated Structures for Property Located at 302 and 300 Caborn Street. Motion by Council Member Shirilyn Holt to adopt the Resolution Authorizing the Giving of Notice of Dangerous and Dilapidated Structures for Property Located at 302 and 300 Caborn Street. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen.
Mayor David E. Keen spoke regarding the Sweet Corn and Watermelon Festival activities held in the past week. Mr. Keen stated that he wanted to give special thanks to Bernie Dickneite, all City employees, Fire and Police Departments and Public Works. Mayor Keen stated that it was a wonderful festival and he was very proud of the City.
Mayor Keen asked Elbert Cain to talk about the burn piles and the limbs that have been taken care of. Mr. Cain stated that clean up is at about 50% now, the burn pile at Davidson Drive is closed now and the one at Lincoln Park is open until 4:00 p.m.
Motion by Council Member Ricky D. Heck to adjourn this Regular City Council Meeting. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen.