CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING
“CITY HALL ON THE ROAD”
JULY 18, 2006
The Mt. Vernon City Council held a Workshop Meeting, “ City Hall On The Road” on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at Epworth United Methodist Church, 4th and Main Street, at 7:00 p.m.
Mayor David E. Keen called the meeting to order. Roll call showed present: Council Member Shirilyn Holt, Council Member John Howard and Mayor David E. Keen. Absent: Council Member Ricky D. Heck and Council Member Mike Walker.
Mayor David E. Keen introduced City Manager Roy L. Payne to represent the Finance Department for the City. City Manager Roy L. Payne stated that Merle Hollmann, Finance Director had a death in his family and would not be present tonight so he would present the Finance Department portion tonight. Mr. Payne showed charts and explained the City finances, where revenues come from for the City and the State funds and where the funds go. Mr. Payne spoke regarding the grants received last year and the types of grants and funding the City receives. Mr. Payne spoke regarding the Overpass/Interchange Project and the funds to be used for that project. Mr. Payne introduced Mrs. Mary Jo Pemberton of the Human Resources Department to talk about how to apply for positions with the City.
Mrs. Pemberton spoke regarding the application procedures, the hiring procedures and qualifications for some of the City positions. Mrs. Pemberton explained that the Fire and Police Department do their own applications and testing and hire off of a list. Mrs. Pemberton stated that the City has 170 full-time jobs annually and at this time there are 225 with the summer help and pool workers. The City is the 8th largest employer in the City. Mrs. Pemberton introduced Mr. Steve Lamar of the Mt. Vernon Police Department to speak about the Police Department.
Mr. Lamar stated that there are 60 employees in the Police Department. This represents 1/3 of the City’s workforce. Mr. Lamar spoke regarding the School
Resources Office and their jobs at the high school and DARE Program. Mr. Lamar introduced Mr. Wes Plummer of the Park Department.
Mr. Plummer spoke regarding the new lining at the City Pool, the work on the basketball courts at Veterans Park, the OSLAD Grants and what the funds were used for, the building of shelters and volleyball courts at Lincoln Park next year. Mr. Plummer introduced Mrs. Bonnie Jerdon of the Visitors and Convention Bureau.
Mrs. Jerdon gave a count of the hotels and number of rooms in the City available for travelers. Discussion was held on how to promote Mt. Vernon as a tourist attraction. Mrs. Jerdon spoke about the funds they receive from bed tax and motel room rentals. Mrs. Jerdon spoke about some of the grants they have received and some that they have applied for again. Mrs. Jerdon spoke about the annual events such as Cedarhurst, Sweet Corn and Watermelon Festival and others that bring in a lot of tourism interest. Mrs. Jerdon introduced City Engineer John Porter.
Mr. Porter stated that the Engineering Department supports the Public Works and Public Utility Departments. Engineering works with them to plan water and sewer lines and road construction and maintenance. They work along with the department and IDOT to do the MFT Funding. Mr. Porter is also the Building Inspector so he makes sure all things are done to code on construction projects, remodeling, permits, zoning, nuisances and electrical inspections. Mr. Porter introduced Mr. Tom Upchurch for the Technology Department of the City.
Mr. Upchurch spoke regarding the Mt. Vernon website and what to find there. Mr. Upchurch stated that it is updated very often and you can get the City Code of Ordinances online, the City Council Minutes and meeting times online. Before long Mr. Upchurch hopes to have the ability to apply for building permits and other things online. Mr. Upchurch is also the Special Projects Director. Under this part of his position he will be working on something called ‘FLAGS OVER MT. VERNON” which will be a set of flagpoles near the interstate that will be seen by anyone traveling near Mt. Vernon. Mr. Upchurch introduced Mr. Roy L. Payne, City Manager.
Mr. Payne spoke this time on Future Impact for the City. Mr. Payne stated that the Rolland W. Lewis Center Phase II is about ready to begin. This will include the new armory, the North Davidson Drive Project, and two truck terminals on 5 acres the City has sold to them. Mr. Payne spoke in detail regarding the Davidson Drive Project, the Interchange Project, and Rend Lake Conservancy District coming in with another water line, the possible hospital building, the possible high school buildings and other very large issues that have been discussed lately.
Mayor David E. Keen stated that at this time he would open the floor to the public for any questions, concerns or statements.
Mrs. Christina Stables asked if there would be development of historical housing in the TIF District should the City take that option. City Manager Roy L. Payne stated that the Historical Committee does help as does Downtown Mt. Vernon Development Committee and the Historical Preservation Committee and they will help with the homes and housing when time comes.
Mr. Larry Roberts asked if the taxes would go up in the TIF district on homes. City Manager Roy L. Payne stated that only if you do improvements to your home, and then not immediately. Mr. Roberts asked about the progress on the old Mt. Vernon Motel. Mr. Payne stated that it is a slow process and that Downtown Development actually owns the motel now. There is asbestos in the buildings that has to be dealt with before the buildings can be demolished. Mr. Payne stated that there is a developer interested in the property.
Mrs. Stables stated that she is proud of Mt. Vernon and to live here, but she thinks it is bad when people pull up and park on the wrong side of the road and facing the wrong direction. She also thinks it is bad when people park in the grass and in their yards. She said that these happen all over town. Mayor Keen told Mrs. Stables to report these problems when she sees them, so they can be taken care of.
Larry Roberts and Don Sechrest both asked what can be done about neighbors that leave their garbage cans out front of their homes all of the time. They never pull it back to the house and it looks awful plus the mess and smell. Also the people that clean empty houses out and put the furniture and trash out front and just leave it. There are no ordinances against these items. Mayor Keen stated that Derrick in the Inspection Office can check out these problems and issue nuisance notices on them. Mr. Keen stated that the City needs to put more teeth into the solutions.
Mr. Larry Ruemmler asked if there were any way the City could have Clean Up Week twice a year instead of just the one time. Derrick Quitsch of the Inspection Office stated that he has been looking into this request and could possibly have another one in the fall.
Mr. Don Sechrest stated that in the 600 block of Harrison there is a camper and a car sitting there in the yard that needs to be hauled off or sited for junk vehicles. Mr. Sechrest stated that children in the area of 4th Street play in the street and he is afraid that a car will hit one of them. Could there be a “children playing” sign put up to slow down traffic. Mr. Larry Ruemmler stated that he is concerned with people walking in areas that do not have sidewalks. Areas such as east of town and on Wilshire and other areas that do not have sidewalks.
Mayor Keen stated that the City would repair sidewalks if the resident will pay for the concrete, however the City cannot go out and build all new sidewalks. City Manager Roy L. Payne stated that two years ago the City began building sidewalks on the West side for people to walk there. This was done through a
Tourism Grant paying for them. New subdivisions have to put in their own sidewalks, except for country type subdivisions.
Mr. Larry Ruemmler asked if streets are so expensive to do, is there not any new materials available to try that will hold up longer or make them better. City Engineer John Porter stated that it is still less expensive to re-asphalt than to remove and concrete. Mr. Payne stated that a lot of time it is because of the sub-base of the street. Council Member John Howard stated that there are still a lot of the older streets that have a brick sub-base and they hold up very well.
Mrs. Stables stated that she has lived on the same street for 43 years and it hasn’t been touched as far as repair.
Mayor David E. Keen thanked everyone for attending the meeting and stated that he hopes the public appreciates the City having these meetings because they help the City know what is on the minds of the people.