Regular City Council Meeting
Monday, October 20, 2008
The Mt. Vernon City Council met in Regular Session on Monday, October 20, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Building at Veterans Park.
Mayor Mary Jane Chesley called the meeting to order. City Manager Ron Neibert gave the invocation.
The Pledge of Allegiance was given.
Roll call showed present: Council Member Mary Burgan, Council Member David Wood and Mayor Mary Jane Chesley. Absent: Council Member Shirilyn Holt and Council Member Mike Walker.
The journal for the Regular City Council Meeting of October 6, 2008 was presented to Council for any additions, deletions or corrections. Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to Approve the journal for the October 6, 2008 Regular City Council Meeting as presented. Second by Council Member David Wood. Yeas: Burgan, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Holt and Walker.
The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for October 2008 in the amount of $ 1,051,781.12 were presented for Council’s consideration. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for October 2008, in the amount of $ 1,051,781.12 as presented. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Holt and Walker.
City Manager Ron Neibert stated that the bid results for the Christmas Pole Decorations that were presented at the October 6, 2008 meeting were held over to check into the costs of LED lights or incandescent lights. Mr. Neibert stated that the company that bid had been contacted and the initial cost of the LED lights is more and also the replacement LED bulbs are more. Mr. Neibert stated that we would get three times the time with the LED lights, but the cost savings per three years and the LED would need replaced more by far. City Manager
stated that he and Bonnie Jerdon had discussed the options and decided to go with the low bid of GP Designs in the amount of $ 10,820.00 for the incandescent bulbs. Mr. Neibert stated that he had given the results of the quotes to Mike Walker and he was agreeable to the terms of GP Design. Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to approve the purchase of the Christmas Pole Decorations from G P Designs in the amount of $ 10, 820.00. Second by Council Member David Wood. Yeas: Burgan, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Holt and Walker.
City Manager Ron Neibert introduced Mr. Jim Leuty and Mr. Greg Charlton. Mr. Leuty is a CPA and partner of Krehbiel and Associates. He thanked Council for allowing them to attend to present the Annual Audit for the Year Ending April 30, 2008. Mr. Leuty stated that Council had held a Workshop Meeting on Octoebr14 at City Hall to go over the draft of the Budget before it was presented tonight. This allowed questions and concerns to be asked and answered before tonight’s meeting. Mr. Leuty stated that tonight they would recap the major points of the Audit. Mr. Leuty stated that this is an independent auditors report and what is called a Clean Audit Opinion. That is the highest opinion for an audit. Mr. Leuty stated that one issue had always been compliance and control for inventory in some of the departments. The results this year are much better than the last few years and they were able to remove the findings in the inventory control for the water and sewer departments.
Mr. Leuty stated that again the audit report is over 100 pages long. The first 10 or so pages are management and discussion of the MD & A. Page 14 shows the Net Assets of the City. The Public Utilities loss if shown on page 15, which was a $1.3 million dollar loss. Money was transferred into the PUD Fund to shore up the department. Mr. Leuty stated that the goal is for the Sanitation Fund to also be self-sufficient. With the raise in the trash service amount from $4.26 to $8.26, Sanitation will become self-sufficient.
Mr. Leuty spoke regarding the Pension Funds, especially the Police Pension Fund and the Fire Pension Fund. The City has no actual control over these funds. They are overseen by separate Boards. They are all funded by levy’s governed by the State of Illinois.
Mr. Leuty stated that the rest of the report is very extensive. He stated that there are new standards coming and the City is now in Phase II, which is to record and quantify the numbers.
Mr. Leuty stated that once again he would like to thank Finance Director Merle Hollmann and all City staff for all their hard work to get the facts and figures to
him and the auditors. It certainly makes their job easier in the end. Mr. Leuty asked if Council had any questions or comments since the Workshop Meeting.
Mr. Leuty stated that the 12% increase in the utility bills and sanitation fund should cover and carry. The funds lost a lot of ground when the previous Councils did not want to raise rates. Council Member David Wood asked if these funds should be increased annually to be sure the City does not fall into the same problem again.
Mr. Leuty discussed the Working Fund Balance.
Mayor Mary Jane Chesley thanked Mr. Leuty for again preparing the audit and having the Workshop Meeting to explain the audit and answer questions. Council Member David Wood also stated that the Workshop on the audit really helped it all go smoothly. Mayor Chesley stated that there were a lot of tough decisions that had to be made and it took a lot of time and ideas to get it done.
City Manager Ron Neibert presented a Request for Authorization to Bypass Formal Bidding Procedures to Expend 2007 JAG Grant Funds for Purchase of Electronic Surveillance Equipment for the Narcotics Division. Police Chief Chris Mendenall stated that this request is because all of the current equipment is such specialized equipment and all needs to be able to hook together and work. This is a 100% Grant Funded purchase. Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to Approve the Request to Authorize to Bypass Formal Bidding Process to Expend 2007 JAG Grant Funds for the Purchase of Electronic Surveillance Equipment for the Narcotics Division. Second by Council Member David Wood. Yeas: Burgan, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Holt and Walker.
City Manager Ron Neibert Requested an Executive Session Regarding Land Acquisition be held following the Regular Council Meeting.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Rezoning Property Located at 1713 S. 13th Street From Class R2 to RM2. The petitioning party is James May. Mr. May was present to answer any questions on this request. Mr. May stated that he would like to put a manufactured home on the property. There is an old house there now that will be torn down when the new home is set. Mr. May stated that there were no objectors at the Zoning and Planning Board Meeting. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Holt and Walker. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Adopt Ordinance # 2008-47, an Ordinance Rezoning Property Located at 1713 S. 13th Street from Class R2 to
Class RM2 for petitioner James May. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Holt and Walker.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Vacating an Alley Within the City of Mt. Vernon. The Alley is located at 1700 – 1722 Oakland Avenue at Lincoln School Property. Mr. Kevin Settle was present to discuss this request. Mr. Settle stated that the alley runs actually between the parking area, playground area. Mr. Settle stated that this change is so the school can seek sealed bids for the property, and hopefully sell. This would make the property more usable for the buyer. City Attorney David R. Leggans explained that this Ordinance cannot be passed until there is a 4/5ths vote. There are not enough Council Members present tonight. First Reading was held.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for First Reading an Ordinance Authorizing Acceptance of Financing Terms, Incurrence of the Indebtedness and Execution of Documents for Regarding Indebtedness of the City. City Manager Ron Neibert stated that these 3 loans were discussed the last meeting. The loans will be used for Capital Purchases. Work at the Sewer Treatment Plant and Capital Purchase for multiple departments. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Holt and Walker. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Adopt Ordinance # 2008-48, an Ordinance Authorizing the Acceptance of Financing Terms, Incurrence of Indebtedness and Execution of Documents for Regarding Indebtedness of the City. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Holt and Walker.
Mayor Mary Jane Chesley stated that it had been a very busy week in the City. This week is the Dump Your Junk II for the trash truck to pick up any extra items you may wish to dispose of. Appliances will be picked up on Friday.
Mrs. Chesley stated that the weekend was very busy with the EEA Fly In. This was the 12th Annual Fly In. Mayor Chesley offered many thanks to Chris Collins and the Airport Board for making this a very successful Fly in.
The First Annual Harvest Festival was held last week with the big parade happening on Saturday. Council Member Wood stated that he thought the Harvest Festival was well attended and very successful. Many thanks to Derrick Quitsch, Bonnie Jerdon and Nikki Green for all of their work. Mayor Chesley spoke regarding a pilot program regarding an Urban Exchange Group from Chicago through the Farm Bureau. They are in town and touring areas to exchange ideas, looking at businesses, industry, quality of life, the hospital, etc.
There are 50 of them in town now and 50 of our students will go to Chicago in the future to exchange their ideas.
Mayor Chesley stated that she, and City Manager Ron Neibert are going this week to Chicago for the International Shopping Center Seminars. This is to look at companies and present to them our area to hopefully entice companies to come to Mt. Vernon.
Mayor Chesley spoke regarding the Downtown Mt. Vernon Development and Cyndy Mitchell. They have 3 projects as finalists in the Governors Award being looked at. Mayor Chesley stated that the Downtown area is the heart of the area and community.
City Council Member Mary Burgan spoke regarding the EEA Fly in and its’ success. She stated that they took their son and he had his first helicopter ride and is still talking about it. Mrs. Burgan stated that she went to EMC to look at the dewatering process and learned much more than she needed to know about wastewater, BOD and fluids. But it was a wonderful tour.