Regular City Council Meeting
December 3, 2007
The Mt. Vernon City Council met in Regular Session on Monday, December 3, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Building at Veterans Park.
Mayor Mary Jane Chesley called the meeting to order and Reverend David Eadie gave the invocation.
The Pledge of Allegiance was given.
Roll Call showed present: Council Member Mary Burgan, Council Member Shirilyn Holt, Council Member Mike Walker, Council Member David Wood and Mayor Mary Jane Chesley.
The journals for the November 19, 2007 Regular City Council Meeting, and the November 27, 2007 City Council Workshop Meeting were presented to Council for any additions, deletions or corrections. Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to approve the journals as presented. Second by Council Member Shirilyn Holt. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker, Wood and Chesley.
The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for December 2007 in the amount of $747,135.44 were presented for Council’s consideration. Motion by Council Member David Wood to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for December 2007 in the amount of $747,135.44 as presented. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker, Wood and Chesley.
CITY MANAGER
City Manager Ron Neibert requested permission to submit an application to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a Recycling Grant. Mr. Neibert stated that the City’s trash contract would expire April 30, 2008 and the City will be going out for bids sometime in January for a new contract. What the City would like to do, since there has been a recycling task force working on recycling, is bid as an alternate to that overall project a curbside recycling program at least to gauge the cost involved and then the Council can consider whether or not to implement the program. One of the components that the City would like to do to try to drive down this cost is to apply for a grant through the Department of Commerce for approximately $60,000.00. This grant is a 50/50 matching grant program through the State. The purpose of the grant program specifically is to drive down the cost initially of some of the recycling bins and to do a promotional program on the recycling program.
Council Member Mike Walker asked if we would accept bids on just the collection or just the recycling portion. City Manager Neibert stated that we would not exclude anyone from bidding, but he would rather deal with just one company. He suggested that if an entity specialized in one area to marry up and be a subcontractor to the prime contractor.
Council Member David Wood asked for a time line of the bid process. City Manager Neibert stated that the bid specifications will pretty much match what we have now. Council Member Wood stated that he has received several calls on the quality of service we are getting from our current trash contract. He would like the bid request to include some quality service requirements.
Council Member Mike Walker stated he feels we should make it a part of the bid itself for the company to have a local phone number that residents can call and at least twice yearly post a schedule of holiday pickups. City Manager Neibert stated that the City, as the billing agent, could post messages on the water bills to give notice to residents.
Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to grant permission to Apply for a Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Recycling Grant. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker, Wood and Chesley.
CITY ATTORNEY
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration First Reading on an Ordinance Authorizing a Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Agreement. Mayor Mary Jane Chesley asked Fire Chief Jim Brown to explain MABAS. Fire Chief Brown stated that MABAS is a mutual aid box alarm system. It is a state wide system composed of over 50 departments and would give the City near unlimited resources should we have a disaster in our area. Also, hopefully it would open up other grant opportunities on the State and Federal level. Council Member Burgan asked what other communities around Mt. Vernon has this system in place. Fire Chief Brown stated that Salem and Centralia would be in our division.
Council Member Shirilyn Holt stated that she has been checking into MABAS on the Internet. She asked how it is funded and if we would be partnering with other cities. Fire Chief Brown said we would partner with Salem and Centralia. Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Sargent stated that MABAS is funded through the Illinois Terrorism Task Force through federal grants that are given out on an annual basis or a biannual basis to help fund the program itself along with the small nominal fee that comes from the agencies that are members of MABAS. Through those grants is how they fund the equipment purchases for things such as the HAZMAT team, etc.
City Manager Ron Neibert stated that this is just simply a larger expansion of our mutual aid agreement.
Motion by Council Member David Wood to Suspend the Rules To Vote On An Ordinance. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker, Wood and Chesley. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Approve Ordinance # 2007-56, an Ordinance Authorizing a Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Agreement. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker, Wood and Chesley.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration First Reading on an Ordinance Authorizing the Tax Levy. City Manager Ron Neibert stated that this is that time of year when we have to levy property taxes to generate revenues for specific funds for the next operating fiscal year. If you look in the ordinance we are proposing levies in Parks and Recreation of $155,510.00; Emergency Service and Disaster Agency of $6,969.00; Fire Pension Fund of $593,661.00; Police Pension Fund of $472,189.00; IMRF and FICA Purposes of $698,436.00 and a Special Services Area levy of $49,921.00 which would be a total levy of property taxes in the amount of $1,976,686.00. This represents a 4.95% increase over last year’s tax levy. Council Member Mike Walker explained that the levy process made it impossible to limit increases in the levy by adjusting the budget because the tax levy amounts are not known until after the budget is completed. Mayor Chesley stated this item would be held at First Reading.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Authorizing Notice of Dangerous and Dilapidated Structure for Property Located at 2413 Herbert. Motion by Council Member Mike Walker to Approve a Resolution Authorizing Notice of Dangerous and Dilapidated Structure for Property Located at 2413 Herbert. Second by Council Member Shirilyn Holt. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker, Wood and Chesley.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Requesting an Illinois Department of Transportation Permit for a private project of Pete Bradham. City Manager Ron Neibert stated that this is a new process for the City. IDOT District 9 out of Carbondale requires that when an entity, public or private, does improvements within State right-of-way, they require a permit. In the past, District 7 and other IDOT Districts allowed the City Manager or Mayor to sign the permit. IDOT District 9 requires that Council pass a Resolution. Motion by Council Member Shirilyn Holt to Approve the Resolution Requesting an Illinois Department of Transportation Permit. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker, Wood and Chesley.
MAYOR
Mayor Mary Jane Chesley requested Re-Appointment of Police Chief Chris Mendenall to the 911 Board. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Approve the Re-Appointment of Police Chief Chris Mendenall to the 911 Board. Second by Council Member Shirilyn Holt. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker, Wood and Chesley.
Mayor Chesley requested Appointment of Ryan Pipher to the Park Board. Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to Approve the Appointment of Ryan Pipher to the Park Board. Second by Council Member David Wood. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker, Wood and Chesley.
Mayor Chesley also stated that in the future we would be looking at all our Boards and Commissions to be sure they are fully staffed with individuals because we will be going through the Comprehensive Plan and she wants to see all participants aboard so we will have a strong team when we put this Comprehensive Plan into creation and action.
Mayor Chesley thanked the Downtown Development Organization for the Christmas Parade that was held December 1. She stated that it was very nice and the weather cooperated to make for a pleasant day.
Mayor Chesley announced that Christmas In The Park would be coming up December 21st and 22nd. More information will be out to the Public soon.
CITY COUNCIL
VISITORS/CITIZEN REQUESTS/ADDRESS FROM THE AUDIENCE
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Council Member Mike Walker to adjourn this Regular City Council Meeting. Second by Council Member David Wood. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker, Wood and Chesley.