CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING
MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2007
The Mt. Vernon City Council met for a Public Hearing at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 18, 2007, in the Community Building at Veterans Park.
Mayor Mary Jane Chesley called the Public Hearing to order and stated that the purpose of this Public Hearing was for Consideration Regarding Amending the Mt. Vernon/ Jefferson County Enterprise Zone Benefits and Authorizing an Amendment to the Intergovernmental Agreement.
Present were: Council Member Shirilyn Holt, Council Member Mike Walker, Council Member David Wood and Mayor Mary Jane Chesley. Absent: Council Member Mary Burgan.
Mayor Chesley turned the Public Hearing over to City Manager Ron Neibert. Mr. Neibert stated that the Enterprise Zone requires that a Public Hearing be held for any changes or amendments to the zone. Mr. Neibert stated that there is a ten-acre plat south of the airport that Magnum Steel would like to expand their business and are asking for Enterprise Zone benefits for this property. There is also a request to expand a parcel towards Waltonville down the Union Pacific Railroad Tracks. This would be for the proposed Ethenex Development site for an ethanol plant. This not only adds territory to the agreement, but also adds another unit of government, the Village of Waltonville. Waltonville has qualified to the Enterprise Zone by the unemployment rate. The unemployment rate there was 10% while the State rate was 4.8% for the same time frame. Mr. Neibert stated that this would increase the area from 12 square miles to 13 square miles.
Mayor Chesley asked if there were any comments or questions from the public. Mr. Neibert introduced Mayor George Gifford, the Mayor of Waltonville.
Mayor Mary Jane Chesley adjourned the Public Hearing portion of the meeting at 6:34 p.m.