City of Mt. Vernon, Illinois

Regular City Council Meeting

October 19, 2009

 

 

 

 

The Mt. Vernon City Council met in Regular Session on Monday, October 19, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Rolland W. Lewis Community Building at Veterans Park.

 

Mayor Mary Jane Chesley called the meeting to order. The invocation was given by Reverend Jerry Van Houtin of New Life Harvest Church.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was given.

 

Roll call showed present: Council Member Mary Burgan, Council Member Dennis McEnaney, Council Member Todd Piper and Mayor Mary Jane Chesley.  Absent: Council Member David Wood.

 

The journals for the October 5, 2009 Regular City Council Meeting and the October 13, 2009 City Council Workshop Meeting were presented for any additions, deletions or corrections.  Motion by Council Member Todd Piper to approve the journals for the October 5, 2009 Regular City Council Meeting and the October 13, 2009 City Council Workshop Meeting as presented.  Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper and Chesley. Absent: Wood.

 

The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for October 2009 in the amount of $ 947,235.23 were presented to Council for their consideration. Council Member Mary Burgan asked about item # 11 for Henry, Meisenheimer & Gende for $12,242.37.  She asked if this was a total payment. City Manager Neibert stated that this was only the first installment for the Veterans Memorial Interchange sanitary sewer project. Council Member Todd Piper asked about item # 17 for the housing demolitions. City Manager Neibert stated that this was the last few that were demolished and there are funds remaining. About $30,000.00 but he is not sure how many homes that amount will cover.  Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for October 2009 in the amount of $ 947,235.23 as presented.  Second by Council Member Todd Piper.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper and Chesley. Absent: Wood.

 

BIDS AND QUOTES

 

City Manager Ron Neibert stated that bids were received for the purchase of a new backhoe for the Public Utilities Department. Mr. Neibert stated that there were three bids received and they were given to Equipment Maintenance Director Mike Shannon to open.  Mr. Shannon stated that only one of the bids received met the specs of the bid. He stated that Erb Equipment of Mt. Vernon, IL bid a backhoe in the amount of $58,000.00 with trade in. Mr. Shannon recommended the acceptance of this bid from Erb Equipment in the amount of $58,000.00. This is under the budgeted amount. City Manager Ron Neibert concurred.  Council Member Burgan asked why the other two companies would send in bids if they could not meet the specs.  Mr. Shannon stated that the specs that were not met were for the control panel on the backhoe and it was speced for the way the operators are used to. Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to accept the bid from Erb Equipment for the Backhoe for the Public Utilities Department in the amount of $ 58,000.00 with trade in. Second by Council Member Todd Piper.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper and Chesley.  Absent: Wood.

 

CITY MANAGER

 

City Manager Ron Neibert introduced Mr. Greg Charleton of Krehbiel and Associates to present the Annual Audit for the City. Mr. Charleton is a CPA with Krehbiel and Associates. Mr. Charleton first thanked Finance Director Merle Hollmann and the staff in the Finance Office for all of their help in putting the budget together this year.  He also thanked all of the City Department Heads for their help and cooperation in being so helpful in the budget process.  Mr. Charleton stated that the budget this year is an unqualified report. This means that there were zero real deficiencies or no non-compliance issues found. This means the audit is as clean as we can get.  Mr. Charleton stated that the changes in rates in the Public Utilities Department have made the most difference in the audit. The General Corp Fund no longer has to carry the burden of the PUD shortfall. The loss in that Fund in 2008 was $1,142,000.00. Council raised both water rates and trash rates, which pulled the fund out of the red. The amount for 2009 was $ 620,000.00 but with all of the depreciation, etc. the end balance was a $ 250,000.00 increase. The audit was done before another increase was done on May 1, 2009, so the next year’s fund should be really impressive. This will allow for a lot of work that has been put off for several years to be done.

 

Mr. Charleton stated that the only portion of the audit that was bad was the Police and Fire Pension Funds.  This is because the funds are from a Tax Levy and the State of Illinois Department of Insurance tells the City how much needs to be levied to cover the funds. The funds are turned over to the Police and Fire Pension Boards to invest themselves and the City has no control over any of the

 

funds.  With the interest down, the Police Pension Fund lost $1,817,000.00 and the Fire Pension Fund lost $ 1,270,000.00. The Department of Insurance will let the City know how much has to be levied for these funds. The City has no control over these funds.

 

Mr. Charleton stated that the letters he has enclosed with the audits would show any findings or problems. There are no findings shown. Mr. Charleton spoke about the management’s discussion and analysis for the audit.  This included the Downtown TIF and the Homestead TIF, two new funds this year. The basic financial statements were discussed. Mr. Charleton discussed the report on internal control and compliance. City Grants were discussed. The Auditors Summary of Results was discussed. The City was determined to be a low-risk auditee.

 

City Manager Ron Neibert presented for Council’s consideration a Request for Authorization to Bypass the Bid Procedures to Purchase a Prisoner Holding Cell for the Police Department.  Police Chief Chris Mendenall stated that the department currently does not have a space to hold prisoners.  They have to be attended at all times.  This would allow them to hold the prisoners and not have to have an officer watching them. The funds for this purchase would be out of the Special Funds, such as the drug funds confiscated. The City gets a percentage of the funds from drug money but it is to be used on certain things only. Chief Mendenall stated that there is a single source provider for this purchase.  A company that will come and build the cell on site. The cell will be built in the garage area at the Police Department. The cost for this will be $5,388.00. Motion by Council Member Dennis McEnaney to Approve the Request for Authorization to Bypass Bid Procedures to Purchase Prisoner Holding Cell for the Police Department. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper and Chesley.  Absent: Wood.

 

City Manager Ron Neibert presented for Council’s consideration a Request for Permission to Seek Bids for a 1-Ton Dump Truck through the State Bid. Mr. Neibert stated that this would be for the Parks Department. It is not to replace another vehicle; they just need another dump truck for use. Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to Grant Permission to Seek Bids for a 1-Ton Dump Truck for the Parks Department. Second by Council Member Todd Piper. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper and Chesley.  Absent: Wood.

 

City Manager Ron Neibert presented for Council’s consideration a Request for Permission to Seek Bids for the S. 26th Street Water Main Replacement.  Motion by Council Member Todd Piper to Grant Permission to Seek Bids for the S. 26th Street Water Main Replacement. Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper and Chesley.  Absent: Wood.

 

 

 

City Manager Ron Neibert presented for Council’s consideration the Final Plat for the Valley Forge Commercial Resubdivision of Lot 7 Located at 141 Davidson Avenue. Mr. Todd Mosher explained that this is a Subdivision of the Resub of Lot 7, It will divide the property into two lots, one 6 acres and one 5 acre parcels. The property is located next to Staples on Davidson Drive. The new owners will be relocating the sewer for the Staples lot because the newly proposed building will otherwise set right on top of the sewer line. City Manager Ron Neibert stated that there were no objectors present at the Planning and Zoning Board meeting. Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to Approve the Final Plat for the Valley Forge Commercial Resub of Lot 7 Located at 141 Davidson Avenue. Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper and Chesley.  Absent: Wood.

 

CITY ATTORNEY

 

Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration the Second Reading of an Ordinance Amending the Liquor Ordinance.  City Manager Ron Neibert explained the changes in this amendment. The changes are in the number of licenses, the number of drink tickets for a hotel ticket license, a brewpub license and a banquet license. These changes had been discussed at length in the City Council Workshop Meeting on October 13, 2009. Motion by Council Member Dennis McEnaney to Adopt Ordinance # 2009-33, an Ordinance Amending the Liquor Ordinance # 2007-32.  Second by Council Member Mary Burgan.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper and Chesley.  Absent: Wood.

 

Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for First Reading an Ordinance Granting a Conditional Use for a Home Day Care for Property Located at 1102 S. 25th Street.  The petitioning party is Anna Coomer.  City Manager Ron Neibert stated that this had gone before the Planning and Zoning Board and they recommended that we hold the petitioner to the fence requirement.  The Planning and Zoning Board agreed to the Conditional Use, but thought the fence requirement needed to be met.  Mrs. Coomer stated that at this time she has 2 children other than her own, but she can have up to 8 children between certain ages. Council also is concerned about not having a fence.  Mrs. Coomer stated that at this time she cannot afford to put up the fence required, but she believes she could comply with the request after the first of the year.  Council asked that this be First Reading only.

 

Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Requesting Authorization from the Illinois Department of Transportation for Temporary Closure of Certain Streets on December 5, 2009 for the Annual Downtown Christmas Parade. Council Member Todd Piper stated that this is an annual event for the DMDC and it is always a great parade.  He stated that his children always really enjoy it. Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to approve the Resolution Requesting Authorization from the Illinois

 

Department of Transportation for Temporary Closure of Certain Streets for the Annual Downtown Christmas Parade on December 5, 2009. Second by Council Member Todd Piper.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper and Chesley.  Absent: Wood.

 

MAYOR

 

Mayor Mary Jane Chesley spoke regarding a Ribbon Cutting to be held earlier today for the opening of South Water Tower between 34th Street and 42nd Street. Mayor Chesley stated that this is a very nice roadway and they had a nice crowd attending for the ribbon cutting. Mayor Chesley stated that vehicles were driving on the roadway as soon as the ribbon was cut.

 

Mayor Chesley stated that the Union Pacific Railroad would be closing one of the east side crossings on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 for one day. The westbound crossing on Main Street would be closed for repairs. The closing will begin at 8:30 a.m. and should be a one-day closing.

 

CITY COUNCIL

 

Council Member Todd Piper stated that the week of November 2, 2009 on your regular trash pickup day, would be the large trash pick up days. This is the second clean up for the year. This is the week that on your regular trash day, you can put out large and extra items and they will be picked up.

 

Council Member Piper also stated that the leaf burning began on October 1, 2009 and will continue until December 15, 2009. The burn days are Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Mondays. 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The trucks will also continue to pick up yard waste.

 

Council Member Dennis McEnaney stated that there would be a Workshop held regarding the Housing and the proposed occupancy changes. Mr. McEnaney stated that he has volunteered to serve on the committee also.

 

Mayor Mary Jane Chesley stated that the Harvest Festival was held last weekend and the parade and activities downtown were very well attended and enjoyed. There was a car show held and the fly-in at the airport all contributed to a very nice week in Mt. Vernon.

 

VISITORS/ CITIZEN REQUESTS/ ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE

 

Mr. Rolland Mays, Chairman of the Minority Affairs Commission addressed Council regarding the Annual Report from the Committee. The Minority Affairs Commission was adopted in 1994. Mr. Mays spoke of the mission statement of the committee. Mr. Mays introduced Reverend Ron Lash also of the committee

 

who was in attendance. Mr. Mays spoke of the by-laws for the commission, the working committees within the commission. Mr. Mays stated that they hold their Regular Meetings on the 4th Thursdays of the month except in June, July and December. Mr. Mays gave the overview of the last year’s activities. Mr. Mays named the members of the committee. He stated that the Commission works hard on the Black History Month activities. He and Reverend Lash will be traveling to Peoria to accept an award on October 24, 2009 for the District 80 Education Award.  Mr. Mays spoke regarding the 6 essay recipients; each will receive a $25.00 gift certificate for their essay.

 

Mr. David Lister spoke on behalf of the Granada Theater. Mr. Lister stated that the Governor would be in town on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. to announce some educational grants. Mr. Lister invited everyone out to hear the Governor speak. Mr. Lister also thanked the Council for the changes in the Liquor Ordinance allowing them to have a Banquet License.

 

Mayor Chesley mentioned the Governors Hometown Award that the Granada Theater won recently. Mayor Chesley stated that she is very proud of the Granada and the people who are very dedicated to making this entity a wonderful project for Mt. Vernon.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Motion by Council Member Todd Piper to adjourn this Regular City Council Meeting. Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper and Chesley.  Absent: Wood.