Regular City Council Meeting
January 16, 2007
The Mt. Vernon City Council met in Regular Session on Tuesday, January 16, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Building at Veterans Park.
Mayor David E. Keen called the meeting to order.
Mayor Keen asked for the observance of a moment of silence for Jonathan Kyle Price who was killed in Ramadi, Iraq one year ago on Friday, January 13, 2006.
Reverend Travis Perry gave the invocation.
Roll call showed present: Council Member Ricky D. Heck, Council Member Shirilyn Holt, Council Member John Howard, Council Member Mike Walker and Mayor David E. Keen.
The journal for the January 2, 2007 Regular City Council Meeting was presented for any additions, deletion or corrections. Motion by Council Member Mike Walker to approve the journal for the January 2, 2007, Regular City Council Meeting as presented. Second by Council Member Ricky D. Heck. Yeas; Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen.
The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for January 2007 in the amount of $ 676,385.36 were presented for Council’s consideration. Motion by Council Member John Howard to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for January 2007 in the amount of $ 676,385.36. Second by Council Member Ricky D. Heck. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen.
Interim City Manager Merle Hollmann stated that bids were advertised for Ammunition for the Police Department. City Clerk Jackie Sharp stated that only one bid was received and it came in by FAX after 4:00 p.m. today. The bid cut off was 4:00 p.m. and it was not a sealed bid. Mrs. Sharp stated that it would be up to Council to accept this bid or not. Interim City Manager Merle Hollmann stated that he would not recommend the acceptance of the bid due to the
company not following bid procedures. Council concurred. The bid was left unopened. Police Chief Chris Mendenall stated that they would readvertise and rebid the ammunition. Motion by Council Member Mike Walker to rebid the ammunition for the Police Department. Second by Council Member Ricky D. Heck. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen.
Interim City Manager Merle Hollmann stated that bids were received for the Brennan Klein Field Dugouts. Park Coordinator Wes Plummer addressed Council stating that two bids were received for this project. Mr. Plummer stated that the Baseball Boosters would be paying for this project. Interim City Manager Merle Hollmann stated that the Boosters did not have enough money to pay for the project all at once, so the City would loan them the money to pay for the work, and then they would pay the City. Mr. Plummer stated that there were two bids turned in. The bids were as follows:
Lipps Construction $ 22,789.00 Alt bid $ 8,846.00
Rex Brieseacher $ 18,900.00 Alt bid $ 9,220.00
The City crews can do the alternate concrete work. Mr. Plummer recommended the acceptance of Rex Brieseacher for the work on the Brennen Klein Field Dugouts in the amount of $ 18,900.00. Interim City Manager Merle Hollmann concurred. Motion by Council Member John Howard to accept the low bid of Rex Brieseacher in the amount of $18,900.00 for the Brennen Klein Field Dugouts at Lincoln Park. Second by Council Member Shirilyn Holt. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen.
Interim City Manager Merle Hollmann presented for Council’s consideration a Request to Seek Proposals for the Annual Fireworks Display for the Fourth of July Salute to Freedom. This is just a request to seek prices. Motion by Council Member John Howard to Grant Permission to Seek Proposals for the Annual Fireworks Display for the Fourth of July Salute to Freedom. Second by Council Member Shirilyn Holt. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen.
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Annexing Property Located on Fairway Drive. The petitioning party is Homestead Lake Estates, LLC. Mr. Mark Miller of Homestead Lake Estates, LLC. stated that he and Roger Campbell were present. Mr. Miller stated that they are ready to begin work on the project soon and this is another step needed. There was no opposition to this request at the Zoning and Planning Commission Meeting. Motion by Council Member John Howard to Suspend the
Rules to Vote on an Ordinance. Second by Council Member Shirilyn Holt. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen. Motion by Council Member John Howard to Adopt Ordinance # 2007-2, an Ordinance Annexing Property Located on Fairway Drive for petitioning party Homestead Lake Estates, LLC. Second by Council Member Shirilyn Holt. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen.
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Rezoning Property Located at 9486 Illinois Highway 15 East from Class R-2 to Class B-2. The petitioning party is Carter,Ltd. Attorney Curtis Martin was present to represent Carter,Ltd. Mr. Martin stated that this would be used as a motorcycle sales business for LeMonds from Fairfield, Illinois. There were no objectors at the Zoning and Planning Commission meeting. Mr. Martin stated that this property is across Route 15 from Sensation Station. Motion by Council Member Mike Walker to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance. Second by Council Member Shirilyn Holt. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen. Motion by Council Member Mike Walker to Adopt Ordinance # 2007-3, an Ordinance Rezoning Property Located at 9486 Illinois Highway 15 East from Class R-2 to Class B-2. The petitioning party is Carter, Ltd. Second by Council Member Shirilyn Holt. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen.
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Rezoning Properties Located at 4200, 4201, 4202, 4203, 4204 and 4206 South 42nd Street from Class B-2 to Class BPL. The petitioning party is Phillip Corley. Mr. Bill Woodfall was present to represent Mr. Corley. Mr. Woodfall stated that Mr. Corley would like this change to sell the properties. There were no objectors present at the Zoning and Planning Commission Meeting. Motion by Council Member John Howard 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 John Howard to Adopt Ordinance # 2007-4, an Ordinance Rezoning Properties Located at 4200, 4201, 4202, 4203, 4204 and 4206 South 42nd Street for Phillip Corley. Second by Council Member Ricky D. Heck. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen.
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Granting a Conditional Use Allowing for a Residence at 212 ½ South 9th Street. The petitioning party is Robin Hensley. City Engineer John Porter stated that this is a request for a residence above McCoy and Howard offices at this location. There have been a few businesses in the downtown area requesting these changes for their buildings. Motion by Council Member Shirilyn Holt to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen. Motion by Council Member Shirilyn Holt to Adopt Ordinance # 2007-5, an Ordinance Granting a Conditional Use to Have a Residence Above a Business in
the Downtown Area at 212 ½ South 9th Street. The petitioning party is Robin Hensley. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen.
Mayor David E. Keen stated that he wanted to congratulate and thank the NAACP for the very nice Martin Luther King, Jr. program over the weekend. Mayor Keen stated it was one of the nicest celebrations that he had attended.
Council Member Mike Walker asked about checking into alternate power sources for the City to purchase our own power. Information is needed on how to go about the changes. Several other cities in this area are looking into this possibility also. Mayor Keen stated that Tom Upchurch is already checking into ways to save energy costs for the City. Council Member Walker stated that he would like to see the new City Manager work on this project as soon as he gets on board.
VISITORS/ CITIZEN REQUESTS/ ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE
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.