City of Mt. Vernon, Illinois
Regular City Council Meeting
Monday, November 21, 2011
MINUTES
The Mt. Vernon City Council met for a Regular City Council Meeting on Monday,
November 21, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. in the Rolland W. Lewis Building at Veterans
Park, Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
Mayor Mary Jane Chesley called the meeting to order.
The Invocation was given by Council Member Rev. Ron Lash.
The Pledge of Allegiance was given.
Roll Call showed present: Council Members Ron Lash, Dennis McEnaney, Todd Piper,
David Wood and Mayor Mary Jane Chesley.
The Journals for the October 31, 2011 Special City Council Meeting and the
November 7, 2011 Regular City Council Meeting were presented to Council for any
additions, deletions or corrections.
Council Member Piper inquired about the information requested at the October 31,
2011 Special City Council Meeting from the Illinois Municipal League Risk
Management Association. The inquiry
was regarding the $3 million one-time infusion from the Illinois Municipal
League to the IML Risk Management Association.
Mr. Closson advised that any municipality in the pool can be assessed to
repay the $3 million to the Illinois Municipal League, but IML Risk Management
Association does not anticipate assessing any municipality.
Mr. Closson was to send to City Manager Ron Neibert the worst case
scenario, the methodology used for the possible repayment of the $3 million, and
the reach-back provision for years the City has been in the program.
City Manager Neibert stated that he had not received the information but
expects it very soon.
Motion by Council Member Piper to approve the Journals.
Second by Council Member Lash.
Yeas: Lash, McEnaney, Piper, Wood, and Chesley.
The Consolidated Vouchers for the Accounts Payable were presented for Council’s
consideration. Council Member McEnaney asked for a clarification on the
following: item #9, Fireman’s Pension Fund - $325,383.58 — Second distribution
of 2010 property taxes; item #21, Policemen’s Pension Fund - $272,981.02 –
Second distribution of 2010 property taxes.
City Manager Ron Neibert noted that generally money used to fund the
pension funds comes from property taxes.
The State of Illinois Department of Insurance annually tells the City of
Mt. Vernon the required amount to deposit in the pension funds.
This amount is based on actuarial analysis, number of retirees, level of
benefits they are receiving, the returns on the investment funds, the potential
for new retirees, etc. Item #10,
Henry Meisenheimer & Gende - $9,904.94 – October engineering services on
Veterans/Davidson extensions ($1,753.41), Davidson/Veterans sewer extension
($4,183.46), North Davidson extension ($1,092.43) and West Elevated Tank
$2,875.64). According to City
Manager Ron Neibert, the City expects to receive the State permit on the project
on December 1, 2011 and hopefully put the project out for bid in the spring.
Council Member McEnaney inquired about the special check that was written to
Crisp Realty Company in the amount of $300,000.00 for Revolving Loan proceeds.
City Manager Neibert reminded Council that this is the revolving loan
disbursement approved at the last City Council meeting.
Council Member Wood made a motion to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for the
Accounts Payable in the amount of $2,114,001.23.
Second by Council Member Lash. Yeas: Lash, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and
Chesley.
BIDS & QUOTES
There were no bids and quotes.
CITY MANAGER
There was nothing presented by City Manager Ron Neibert.
CITY ATTORNEY
City Attorney David Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First
Reading on Ordinance Rezoning Property Located at 2915 Benton Road from Class
B-2 to R-2. Petitioning Party is
Richard Adams. Richard Adams
appeared and stated there were no objections from the neighbors. Council Member
Lash noted at the Zoning & Planning Commission meeting there was an issue about
the legal description of the property.
City Attorney Leggans stated the discrepancy has been corrected.
Council Member Wood made a motion to suspend the rules and act on Mr. Adams’
rezoning request. Council Member
Lash seconded the motion. Yeas:
Lash, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.
Council Member Wood made a motion to adopt
Ordinance No. 46 rezoning Property
located at 2915 Benton Road from Class B-2 to R-2.
Second by Council Member McEnaney. Yeas:
Lash, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.
City Attorney Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading on
Ordinance Rezoning Property Located at 218 S. 15th Street from Class
R-1 to B-2. Petitioning Parties are
Jeff & Rachel Sledge. Architect
Brian Edmison of Mt. Vernon appeared on behalf of his clients, Jeff & Rachel
Sledge.
Council Member Wood made a motion to suspend the rules and act on the Sledge’s
rezoning request. Council Member
Piper seconded the motion. Yeas:
Lash, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.
Council Member Wood made a motion to adopt
Ordinance No. 47 rezoning Property
located at 218 S. 15th Street from Class R-1 to B-2.
Second by Council Member Lash.
Yeas: Lash, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.
City Attorney Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution
Granting a Conditional Sign Permit for Property at 4303 Broadway.
Petitioning Party is Dusty’s Outdoor Media, LLC.
Dick Rhoads, owner of Dusty’s Outdoor
Media, LLC, appeared and stated that the billboard sign is on El Rancherito
Restaurant’s property. Mr. Rhoads
proposed to replace the west-facing present static face sign with a wave
tri-vision sign. The size and
height will remain the same. The
frequency on the change of the message on the sign is 30 minutes, and the sign
is programmable.
Council Member Wood made a motion to adopt a
Resolution Granting a Conditional Sign
Permit for Property at 4303 Broadway and the sign must comply with the City Sign
Ordinance to be amended in December 2011 or January 2012.
Second by Council Member Piper.
Yeas: Lash, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.
Mr. Rhoads is required to obtain a building permit per City Manager
Neibert.
City Attorney Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution
Granting a Conditional Sign Permit for Property at 410 Potomac Blvd.
Petitioning Party is Farm Credit.
John Dungan of T. Ham Sign appeared on behalf of Farm Credit.
This would allow a second free-standing sign on the property.
Pursuant to the City Sign Ordinance only one free-standing sign is
allowed. There is a monument sign
on Potomac, and the new proposed sign will be on Interstate 57/64.
City Manager Neibert noted that the proposed sign Ordinance amendment
expected to be adopted by the City Council in the near future will only allow
one free-standing sign on the property regardless of the zoning classification.
City Manager Neibert informed the applicant that if the Council approves
the soon to be presented sign ordinance amendment then one of the two signs at
Farm Credit will be a non-conforming sign.
If one of the signs is damaged or destroyed beyond 50% of its value that
sign cannot be replaced. In the
proposed sign ordinance amendment, there is no relief for granting conditional
sign permits.
Council Member McEnaney made a motion to adopt a
Resolution Granting a Conditional Sign
Permit for Property at 410 Potomac Blvd.
Second by Council Member Lash.
Yeas: Lash, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.
City Attorney Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution
Approving Agreement with Zanola Company, LLC regarding a Housing Needs Analysis
for the City of Mt. Vernon at a cost of $24,500.00.
The City has been successful in creating more jobs through the expansions
at Continental Tire, the proposed Power Holdings project, the hospitals, and
Magnum Steel. However, there
appears to be a shortage of housing options.
Zanola Company will review the demographics in Mt. Vernon and the area,
interviewing companies that are hiring, identifying salary ranges, etc.
Council Member Wood commented on the importance of this type of needs
analysis so that the City carefully approach the housing issue and be fully
informed on the subject. The study
is expected to be completed in six to eight weeks.
City Manager Neibert stated that the intent of the study is to develop a
plan to approach housing developers, builders, and banks.
Council Member Piper made a motion to adopt a
Resolution Approving Agreement with
Zanola Company, LLC. Second by
Council Member Wood. Yeas: Lash,
McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.
MAYOR
Mayor Chesley commended the City departments that participated in the earthquake
emergency preparedness exercise last Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The county simultaneously
participated in the event. A
representative from the State of Illinois Emergency Management Agency observed
the City’s response to various scenarios and situations in case of a 7.9
earthquake. Mayor Chesley was very
impressed with the coordination between the Department Directors.
The State evaluator stated that the City did an outstanding job.
The Christmas parade will be held on Saturday, December 3, at 5:00 p.m.
Christmas lights are being hung throughout the City.
The Nutcracker will be presented at the Granada Theater after the parade.
Christmas In The Park will be held on December 16 & 17.
Contact Travis Perry for more information at 244-4541.
The Mt. Vernon Convention & Visitors Bureau introduced the Landmark Ornament
Series starting with the Fifth District Appellate Court.
Ornaments may be purchased at the Tourism Department.
CITY COUNCIL
Council Member Wood requested an update on the deer discussion.
City Manager Neibert completed his research, and he will be forwarding
recommended guidelines to the City Council in the near future.
VISITORS/CITIZEN REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE
There were no Visitors/Citizen Requests/Addresses from the Audience.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Council Member Wood made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss real
estate acquisition. Second by
Council Member Piper. Yeas:
Lash, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion for adjournment was made by Council Member Piper.
Second by Council Member Lash.
Yeas: Lash, McEnaney, Piper,
Wood and Chesley.
Respectfully submitted,
Jerilee Hopkins
City Clerk