Regular City Council Meeting
May 5, 2008
The Mt. Vernon City Council met in Regular Session on Monday, May 5, 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 Shirilyn Holt, Council Member Mike Walker and Mayor Mary Jane Chesley. Absent: Council Member David Wood.
The journals for the April 10, 2008 Budget Workshop Meeting, the April 17, 2008 Budget Workshop Meeting and the April 21, 2008 Regular City Council Meeting were presented to Council for any additions, deletions or corrections. Motion by Council Member Shirilyn Holt to Approve the journals for the April 10, 2008 Budget Workshop Meeting, the April 17, 2008 Budget Workshop Meeting and the April 21, 2008 Regular City Council Meeting as presented. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker and Chesley. Absent: Wood.
The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for May 2008 in the amount of $ 463,843.32 were presented for Council’s consideration. Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for May 2008 in the amount of $ 463,843.32 as presented. Second by Council Member Shirilyn Holt. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker and Chesley. Absent: Wood.
City Manager Ron Neibert deferred to Mayor Mary Jane Chesley to move one of her items up on the agenda at this time. Mayor Chesley stated that she would like to call the Mt. Vernon Township High School Rams Basketball Team forward at this time. Mayor Chesley read a Resolution honoring the High School Rams Basketball Team and their winning season that they just had. Mayor Chesley named each player and presented the ones that were present with a copy of the
Resolution. Mayor Chesley then introduced the Coach and the Assistant Coach and presented each of them a certificate also. Mayor Chesley and Council honored and congratulated each player and coach for the wonderful season.
City Manager Ron Neibert stated that Police Chief Chris Mendenall was present to report on the bids for the Video System for the Police Department. This item was held over from the last Regular City Council Meeting. Police Chief Mendenall stated that the bids had been checked over and there were three bids received. One bid from Datatech did not meet the specs. The other two bids were as follows:
ICU Securities $19,200.00
Electronic Architects $22,307.90
Chief Mendenall stated that his recommendation was to accept the low bid from ICU Securities in the amount of $ 19,200.00. City Manager Ron Neibert concurred. Motion by Council Member Shirilyn Holt to accept the low bid from ICU Securities in the amount of $19,200.00 for the Video System for the Police Department. Second by Council Member Mike Walker. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker and Chesley. Absent: Wood.
CITY ATTORNEY
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Regarding Hotel/Motel Tax. City Manager Ron Neibert explained that this would add an additional $1.00 fee per night to the Hotel/Motel Room Tax. Council has been discussing this at the Budget Workshop Meetings. This money will assist in the General Corporate Funds, which has been depleted by the funding of the Water/Sewer Funds. Council Member Mary Burgan stated that this charge would actually not affect the residents of the City. It will mostly affect travelers. Council Member Mike Walker stated that this will allow the City to be able to spend more money out west. This will include the sidewalk program, repairs to the Tourism Building and the bike trails. This tax will bring in approximately $210,000.00 per year. Mayor Chesley stated that this is First Reading Only.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Amending the Salary Ordinance. The Salary Ordinance was discussed at the Budget Workshops also. Council Member Mike Walker asked that the minimum amounts to hire in be removed from the Ordinance. Motion by Council Member Mike Walker to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker and Chesley. Absent: Wood. Motion by Council Member Council Member Mike Walker to Adopt Ordinance # 2008-18, an Ordinance Amending the Salary Ordinance. Mr. Walker stated that he is motioning to pass an Amended version of the Salary Ordinance taking out the minimum salaries. Second by Council Member Shirilyn Holt. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker and Chesley. Absent: Wood.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Approving an Amendment to the EMC Agreement for the Dewatering Project. City Manager Ron Neibert stated that this is a project that has come up recently. EMC has been disposing of its run off by spraying it on property that had been leased by the City for this purpose. The City had been trying to purchase more property near the plant to spray on. The deal to purchase the property fell through so EMC has looked into a dewatering process that allows the product to be sold in a dry form that can just be hauled to a landfill. The City and EMC have looked into this process and decided that it would be a good project. The Resolution approves the amendment between the City and EMC to allow this dewatering project. Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to approve the Resolution Approving the Amendment to the EMC Agreement for the Dewatering Project as presented. Second by Council Member Shirilyn Holt. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker and Chesley. Absent: Wood.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Authorizing an Engineering Services Agreement Relating to the New Truck Access Route to Serve Continental Tire. City Manager Ron Neibert stated that this is a Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement for Motor Fuel Tax Funds between Henry, Meisenheimer & Gende, Inc. This is for a new truck access road for Continental Tire. There is a ½ Million Dollar Grant that has been received for this project and the City can use ½ Million Dollars from the Revolving loan Funds. This will be the primary truck entrance for Continental Tire when complete. Motion by Council Member Shirilyn Holt to Approve the Resolution Authorizing an Engineering Services Agreement Relating to the New Truck Access Route to Serve Continental Tire. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker and Chesley. Absent: Wood.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Approving an Agreement Between the City of Mt. Vernon and Brian Edmison Regarding the Water Tower Drive Extension. City Manager Ron Neibert stated that this agreement allows for a roadway where Mr. Edmison wants to develop. Mr. Edmison's group EF Development, agrees to pay the City $56,874.33 to contribute to the cost of paving the extension road. The road will extend out to 34th Street. In turn he will also dedicate 10 acres of land for the City to use. 34th Street will also be widened to help with this project and help 34th Street. Mr. Edmison stated that this would make a favorable donation for the City to use as green space, a park or walking trail. He is planning 66 units to be built on this project. Mr. Edmison has to build a retention area for water. Mr. Edmison stated that he presented some of this plan to the City about a year ago. Mr. Gary Stover spoke in reference to this issue. Mr. Stover stated that he lives on 34th Street and he stated that with Botch’s Creek behind his house there is a lot of flooding on 34th Street and at his home. Mr. Stover stated that when he moved there 30 years ago the creek wasn’t very wide, now it is very wide and cannot be stepped across. Mr. Stover stated that he asked the City for help a few years ago and they sent out a minimum amount of rock to dump in the creek, but it did not hold. There are a number of sewer back ups and basements flooded in this area. Mr. Stover stated that he is very concerned about the flooding and the traffic on 34th Street and something needs to be resolved before this building project begins. Mayor Chesley stated that the 34th Street is being looked at and it will be redone as an approach to Lincoln Park and Veterans Memorial Drive for the Interchange. Mayor Chesley stated that she understands the ditch issue, as there is one behind her home on 29th Street that is the same way. Motion by Council Member Mike Walker to Approve the Resolution Approving an Agreement between the City and Brian Edmison Regarding the Water Tower Drive Extension as presented. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker and Chesley. Absent: Wood.
City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Approving the Park Concession Stand Agreement. Parks Director George Bryant stated that this is the same contract for the 4 months of summer for two years to Mary Mullinax. She has worked the concession stand for several years. Mr. Bryant stated that this had been taken to the Park Board and they approved the lease. Motion by Council Member Shirilyn Holt to approve the Resolution Approving the Park Concession Stand Agreement as presented. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker and Chesley. Absent: Wood.
Mayor Mary Jane Chesley stated that she had names to submit to Council for advice and consent for the newly formed TIF Advisory Board. Ms. Chesley presented the names Doug Hoffmann and Brenda Breeze for three-year terms. Val Gibbons and Susan Hughey for two-year terms, and Stan Fowler for a one-year term. Motion by Council Member Mike Walker to Approve the Mayor’s Appointments of the following persons to the TIF Advisory Board. Doug Hoffmann, Brenda Breeze, Val Gibbons, Susan Hughey and Stan Fowler to the terms named by Mayor Chesley. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker and Chesley. Absent: Wood.
Mayor Mary Jane Chesley read a proclamation for National Police Week and presented it to Police Chief Chris Mendenall to take to the Police Department.
Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to adjourn this Regular City Council Meeting. Second by Council Member Shirilyn Holt. Yeas: Burgan, Holt, Walker and Chesley. Absent: Wood.