City of Mt. Vernon, Illinois
Special City Council Joint Meeting
With the MTVTHS School Board
Wednesday, October 4, 2006
The Mt. Vernon City Council met in a Special Joint Meeting with the MTVTHS School Board on Wednesday, October 4, 2006 at 5:15 p.m. in room 119 H at the High School.
School Superintendent Terry Milt called the School Board meeting to order.
Mr. Milt stated that this meeting is for updates and discussion of the school building project so far and what needs to be done now.
Mr. Milt introduced Mayor David E. Keen who in turn called the City of Mt. Vernon City Council Meeting to order. 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.
Mr. Milt stated that there is a need to begin dialogue and answer some questions on the project. One of the main questions asked is what will happen to the old campus and what possible uses could there be for it.
Mr. Milt stated that the project stands at the place where the board has decided that a new school at a new location should be built. There has been property donated to the School for the project. The City had approved the donation of $850,000.00 over a period of time. The school has brought in a construction manager to work with FGM and Rick Kirkpatrick. Mr. Milt stated that now there is the job of taking this project to the public to get their input and see what the citizens want. The current campus is serving 13,050 students.
Mr. Milt stated if the State comes and says they are ready to work on the 2003 funding for schools, we need to be ready to go.
Mr. Milt introduced Mr. David Parker to discuss some ideas he has presented for the old campus and buildings. Mr. Parker had pictures of an old school campus in Albuquerque New Mexico that has been converted to apartments or condos for housing. Mr. Parker stated that this worked out very well for them. He stated that there were 160 units sold there, 12 in the first year. These buildings are very marketable and there are usually many ways to finance them, even some historical grants. Mr. Parker stated that this is a proposed TIF area for DMDC.
Mr. Rick Kirkpatrick of FGM also spoke on the future of the old campus. He stated that office complexes would also be a possibility for this area.
Mr. Brian Edmison spoke regarding the area and its possible tie in to DMDC’s plans for the downtown area.
Mayor David E. Keen spoke regarding the City’s possible interest in some of the buildings for a police department, a maintenance building for the Park Department, a community building like the one at Veterans Park a small business incubator building and possibly taking the ball fields for the park department.
Discussion was held regarding the need to sell the ideas to the voters and the fact that the City’s economic development growth is depending a lot on there being a new high school. Several stories were told about persons touring the present campus and then not moving to Mt. Vernon.
Mr. Milt stated that the school is very glad to have the support and help from the City for this project. Mr. Milt stated that there needs to be at least monthly meetings on this project and committees formed to get out and sell the project to the public.
Mr. Craig Hedin asked what kind of marketing would be done to sell the buildings. He guesses we could be the first to sell a high school on E-bay.
Discussion was held regarding getting the referendum on the ballots for April 2007 and the wording to make it very clear for the public to decide. First, all of the accurate information needs to be gathered. The County Board needs to get onboard also to help sell the idea.
Motion by Council Member Mike Walker to adjourn this Special City Council and MTVTHS Board Joint Meeting. Second by Council Member John Howard. Yeas: Heck, Holt, Howard, Walker and Keen.