CITY OF MT. VERNON, ILLINOIS

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MAY 3, 2010

 

 

 

 

The Mt. Vernon City Council met in Regular Session on Monday, May 3, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the Rolland W. Lewis Community Building at Veterans Park.

 

Mayor Mary Jane Chesley called the Regular Meeting to order.  Reverend Travis Perry from the Bonnie-Ina Methodist Church gave the invocation.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was given.

 

Roll call showed present: Council Member Mary Burgan, Council Member Dennis McEnaney, Council Member Todd Piper, Council Member David Wood and Mayor Mary Jane Chesley. None absent.

 

The journals for the April 12, 2010 City Council Budget Workshop Meeting, the April 15, 2010 Reconvened City Council Budget Workshop Meeting, the April 19, 2010 Regular City Council Meeting and the April 26, 2010 Special City Council Meeting were presented to Council for any additions, corrections or deletions.  Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to approve the journals for the April 12, 2010 City Council Budget Workshop Meeting, the April 15, 2010 Reconvened City Council Budget Workshop Meeting, the April 19, 2010 Regular City Council Meeting and the April 26, 2010 Special City Council Meeting as presented.  Second by Council Member Todd Piper.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.

 

The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for April 2010 in the amount of $460,598.28 were presented for Council’s consideration.  Mayor Mary Jane Chesley asked if Council had any questions or comments regarding the payables. Council Member McEnaney asked about items #3 and #16, both to the Fire and Policeman’s Pension Fund in the amount of $4,280.77 and $3,056.48.  City Manager Ron Neibert stated that those are monies that are given to the City by the State and are shortages of taxes that haven’t been paid by certain entities.  Council Member Wood reports the replacement tax is an income tax that replaced a personal property tax years ago.  City Manager Ron Neibert states this is nothing that comes out of the City’s revenue.  Council Member McEnaney also asked about an update on item #6, the $28,300.00 engineering project on South 34th Street. City Manager Ron Neibert stated that it is still in the design phase.  There has been a lot of interest from the residents in the area regarding any right-of-way that will need to be acquired by the City but until the plan is finalized the City will not be able to discuss what right-of-way will be needed.  Prior to commencing with any final plans, construction or acquisition of the right-of-way a meeting will be held with the land owners in the area to let them know the plan. City Manager Ron Neibert stated that the water and sanitary sewer was already taken into consideration as part of the comprehensive plan but part of the 34th St. Project does contain storm sewer elements that will help with drainage in that area.  Council Member Wood asked if someone wanted to look at plans for a project how would they go about that.  City Manager Ron Neibert states that once plans are finalized his office can be contacted to review those plans that are available.  Council Member Wood would like the City to make a special effort in putting the public on notice and making the plans available for review. Motion by Council Member David Woods to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for April 2010 in the amount of $460,598.28 as presented. Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.

 

 

BIDS AND QUOTES

 

Mayor Mary Jane Chesley reports there were no Bids and Quotes this meeting. 

 

CITY MANAGER

 

City Manager Ron Neibert reports he has no items for this meeting. 

 

 

CITY ATTORNEY

 

City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Annexing Real Estate located on Wells Bypass.  The petitioning party is Hodge Enterprises, LLC.  City Manager Ron Neibert stated that this annexation is another step in expanding the City’s boundaries for the purposes of promoting growth in Mt. Vernon.  The tract in questions consists of approximately 49.15 acres of property.  City Manager Ron Neibert requests suspension of the rules.  Council Member Wood asks if the three annexation ordinances presented are consistent with previous annexation ordinances passed in terms of the details.  City Manager Ron Neibert states that they are consistent.  City Manager Ron Neibert states there will be six ordinances for properties presented at the next meeting with twelve properties remaining and they are still on schedule to meet the May 31st deadline. Once the annexations are complete they can begin the formal application for the TIF.  Council Member David Wood inquires as to notification to the property owners regarding the deadline.  City Manager Ron Neibert states there has been notification to the property owners and another letter will be going out to them.  Motion by Council Member David Wood to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance.  Second by Council Member Mary Burgan.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Motion by Council Member David Wood to Adopt Ordinance # 2010-21, an Ordinance Annexing Real Estate to the City of Mt. Vernon located on Wells Bypass for petitioning party Hodge Enterprises, LLC. Second by Council Member Todd Piper.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.

 

City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Annexing Real Estate on East Ambassador Road. The petitioning party is Hodge Enterprises, LLC.  City Manager Ron Neibert stated that this tract of property contains approximately 77.6 acres. City Manager Ron Neibert requests suspension of the rules. Motion by Council Member Dennis McEnaney to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance. Second by Council Member Todd Piper.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Motion by Council Member Dennis McEnaney to Adopt Ordinance # 2010-22, an Ordinance Annexing Real Estate to the City of Mt. Vernon on East Ambassador Road for petitioning party Hodge Enterprises, LLC. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.

 

City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Annexing Real Estate on East Ambassador Road. The petitioning parties are Janelle Bayer and Ermagene Weir.  City Manager Ron Neibert stated that this tract of property contains approximately 40 acres. City Manager Ron Neibert requests suspension of the rules.  Motion by Council Member Todd Piper to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance.  Second by Council Member David Wood.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Motion by Council Member Todd Piper to Adopt Ordinance           #2010-23, an Ordinance Annexing Real Estate to the City of Mt. Vernon on East Ambassador Road. The petitioning parties are Janelle Bayer and Ermagene Weir.  Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.

 

 

MAYOR

 

Mayor Mary Jane Chesley reads a proclamation for proclaiming the week of May 9th as and May 15th as Police Memorial Day each year.  The proclamation is presented to Chief Chris Mendenall.  Chief Chris Mendenall accepts the proclamation and states the officers will appreciate the recognition. 

 

Mayor Mary Jane Chesley reported that the City Wide Clean-up was cancelled last Saturday and has been rescheduled for this Saturday beginning at 8:00 am at the Veteran’s Park.  Food and entertainment will be provided.  Volunteers are encouraged to sign up.  Mayor Chesley reports this is the 14th year for this event.

 

Mayor Mary Jane Chesley reported that there are some changes to the outdoor storm warning system to provide improved communication and safety for the citizens.  On Tuesday, May 4th there will be a testing of the system with two different modes of sirens; a steady mode followed by a minute of silence and then a wailing mode.  Also new to the system is a voice messaging system.  A severe thunderstorm warning will be the fluctuating wail and a tornado warning will be the steady mode of the siren

 

Mayor Chesley asks Ryan McKinley to step to the podium who states he is working on two merit badges for the Boy Scouts, both involving attending a City Council meeting.  Mayor Mary Jane Chesley presents Ryan with a pen from the City.

 

 

CITY COUNCIL

 

There are no comments from the City.

 

 

VISITORS/CITIZEN REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE

 

Ms. Barbara Green addressed Council regarding their petition to keep the Fire Department open.  She expresses concerns regarding the bad condition of the roads.  Ms. Green stated that she spoke with the Park Department director and he told her that Dante would take care of the bathroom at Dawson Park. She said she feels that the taxes paid by the community should be used for the bathroom and the City should put in the bathroom at Dawson Park.   Ms. Green also stated that the City should provide the porta-potties when someone reserves the park.  Mayor Mary Jane Chesley responds and reports there are 11 parks in the City to take care of along with all the roads and they are doing the best they can with the finances available.  The improvements to the parks in the future have been considered and are in the comprehensive plan.  Last year the extensive program around the pond and the trail was all the City had funds to do.  Mayor Chesley stated they are working with outside resources to help fund projects at the parks like the bathroom at Dawson Park.  Mayor Chesley explains the money can only be stretched so far and the Council is trying to address the issues that need to be done.  Ms. Green addressed the Council regarding the loud music sign.  Mayor Chesley asks Ms. Green if she could e-mail the text message she received.    

 

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

No Executive Session is held tonight. 

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

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