City of Mt. Vernon, Illinois

Regular City Council Meeting

June 21, 2010

 

 

 

The Mt. Vernon City Council met in Regular Session on Monday, June 21, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the Rolland W. Lewis Community Building at Veterans Park.

 

Mayor Mary Jane Chesley called the Regular City Council Meeting to order.  Reverend Ron Lash of the Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church gave the invocation.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was given.

 

Roll call showed present: Council Member Todd Piper, Council Member David Wood and Mayor Mary Jane Chesley.  Absent: Council Member Mary Burgan and Council Member Dennis McEnaney.

 

The journals for the June 7, 2010 Regular City Council Meeting and the June 14, City Council Workshop Meeting were presented to Council for any change, corrections or deletions. Motion by Council Member Todd Piper to approve the journals for the June 7, 2010 Regular City Council Meeting and the June 14, 2010 City Council Workshop as presented. Second by Council Member David Wood.  Yeas: Piper, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Burgan and McEnaney.

 

The Consolidated Vouchers for the Accounts Payable for June 2010 in the amount of $885,500.89 were presented for Council’s consideration.  Council Member Todd Piper stated that it is good to see some of the TIF payments being used. Motion by Council Member David Wood to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for the June Accounts Payable in the amount of $885,500.89 as presented. Second by Council Member Todd Piper.  Yeas: Pier, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Burgan and McEnaney.

 

BIDS AND QUOTES

 

City Manager Ron Neibert stated that bids were received for three (3) 2010/2011 Police Squad Cars. There were three bids received. The bids were as follows:

 

 

Ford Square – Mt. Vernon, IL                    $23,826. per vehicle       $71,478. TL

 

Vogler Ford – Carbondale,IL                     $23,342. per vehicle       $70,026. TL

 

Thomas Dodge- Orland Park,IL                $21,287. per vehicle       $ 63,861. TL

 

Police Chief Chris Mendenall recommended the acceptance of the low bid from Thomas Dodge in the amount of $63,861.00. City Manager concurred. Council Member David Wood asked if we purchase from Orland Park would service of the vehicles be a problem. City Manager Neibert stated that service would not be a problem and the low bid includes delivery of the vehicles. Motion by Council Member David Wood to accept the low bid from Thomas Dodge of Orland Park, IL for three (3) new squad cars for the Police Department. In the amount of $ 63,861.00 Second by Council Member Todd Piper.  Yeas: Piper, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Burgan and McEnaney.

 

City Manager Ron Neibert stated that bids had been received for the Wagner Road Lift Station Project. The bids are as follows:

 

Haier Plumbing & Htg – Okaville, IL.                    $98,448.00 TL

 

J.K. Trotter & Sons – Mt. Vernon, IL                      $83,100.00 TL

 

Mr. Neibert stated that the Engineer’s estimate for this project was $ 87,912.00. Mr. Neibert recommended the acceptance of the low bid from J.K. Trotter & Sons in the amount of $83,100.00.  Council Member Piper asked what the schedule for completion of this project is.  City Manager Ron Neibert stated that it would be 60 to 90 days. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Approve the acceptance of the low bid of J.K. Trotter and Sons in the amount of $83,100.00 for the Wagner Road Lift Station Project. Second by Council Member Todd Piper.  Yea: Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Burgan and McEnaney.

 

City Manager Ron Neibert presented to Council the Bids received for the MFT Materials. The low bids for each Group was as follows:

Group 1                      Jax Asphalt               $97,783.89

Group 2                      Jax Asphalt               $53,932.50

Group 3                      Beelman                    $13,500.75

Group 4                      Jax Asphalt               $258,929.38

Group 5                      Quad County                        $17,385.00

 

Mr. Neibert stated that the bids are $29,028.84 below the Engineers estimate. These materials are for the street maintenance operations. Motion by Council Member David Wood to accept the low bids for the MFT street maintenance products as presented from Jax Asphalt, Beelman and Quad County. Second by Council Member Todd Piper.  Yeas: Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Burgan and McEnaney.

 

CITY MANAGER

 

City Manager Ron Neibert presented for Council’s consideration a Request for Reallocation of Funds for the 2009/2010 Budget. Mr. Neibert stated that there are 10 Budget Adjustments in this request. The net effects were decreases in the Working Fund Balance. Mr. Neibert stated that main one was to the Sanitation Fund and was due to the loss of the monies from the Housing Authority trash funds. The bid for the trash contract will go out in January 2011. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Approve the Request for Reallocation of Funds for the 2009/2010 Budget Adjustments as presented.  Second by Council Member Todd Piper.  Yeas: Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Burgan and McEnaney. 

 

City Manager Ron Neibert presented for Council’s consideration the Final Plat for DDC Development Subdivision located at Route 57 and Route 15.  Mr. Neibert stated that this is subdividing the old Denny’s Restaurant from the Drury Inn Property. This would put Denny’s property in a TIF area. Motion by Council Member Todd Piper to Approve the Final Plat for the DDC Development Subdivision as presented.  Second by Council Member David Wood.  Yeas: Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Burgan and McEnaney.

 

City Manager Ron Neibert presented a Request by Mr. Bob Tomlin to Close Lake, Magnolia and Columbia Streets for an Annual Fourth of July Block Party.  This is the 25th Year for this request. Motion by Council Member Todd Piper to Close Lake, Magnolia and Columbia Streets for a Fourth of July Block Party for the residents. Second by Council Member David Wood.  Yeas: Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Burgan and McEnaney.    

 

City Manager Ron Neibert presented for Council’s consideration a Request to Bid Material for the North Davidson Water Line. Mr. Neibert stated that this would be a project done by City’s staff.  Motion by Council Member David Wood to Grant Permission to Bid Material for the North Water Line. Second by Council Member Todd Piper.  Second by Council Member David Wood.  Yeas: Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Burgan and McEnaney.

 

City Manager Ron Neibert presented for Council’s consideration a Request for Authorization to Seek Bids for the Construction of the Wells By Pass Sewer Extension Project. Council Member Todd Piper stated that Council was briefed on this project last week at the Workshop Meeting.  Motion by Council Member David Wood to Grant Authorization to Seek Bids for the Construction of the Wells By Pass ewer Extension Project. Second by Council Member Todd Piper.  Yeas: Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Burgan and McEnaney.

 

CITY ATTORNEY

 

Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Annexing Real Estate at 10442 E. Ambassador Road.  The petitioning parties are Vickie and Scotty McLaughlin. City Manager Neibert stated that this is the final 20 acre plat for a total of 850 acres of property annexed into the City and the TIF area. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance.  Second by Council Member Todd Piper.  Yeas: Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Burgan and McEnaney. Motion by Council Member Todd Piper to Adopt Ordinance # 2010-32, an Ordinance Annexing Real Estate at 10442 E. Ambassador Road for Petitioning Parties Vickie and Scotty McLaughlin.  Second by Council Member David Wood.  Yeas: Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Burgan and McEnaney.

 

Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Regarding the Prevailing Wage Rates.  Mr. Neibert stated that this is an annual Ordinance passed at this time of year by State Statute.  It sets the wages for different jobs to use when we bid out jobs. Motion by Council Member Todd Piper to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance. Second by Council Member David Wood.  Yeas: Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Burgan and McEnaney.  Motion by Council Member David Wood to Adopt Ordinance # 2010-33, an Ordinance Regarding the Prevailing Wage Rates. Second by Council Member Todd Piper.  Yeas: Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Burgan and McEnaney.

 

Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented to Council a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of Bonding Agreements.  City Manager Ron Neibert spoke regarding this Resolution. He stated that Council had discussed this at the Workshop Meeting on June 14. City Manager Neibert stated this Resolution Authorizes BMO Capital Markets GKST, Inc. as the City’s Bonding Agent with Kings Financial Consulting with Letters of Agreement.  Council Member David Wood stated that much of what is in BMO’s proposal is fixed, the actual rate that we get on the Bond issue is not fixed, and it is set by the market. Mr. Wood stated that the actual rate in this document may not be what we get. It could be better or worse. Mr. Wood stated that at the Workshop Meeting of June 14th, it was noted that there was a significant difference in the two proposals received from BMO and Stern Brothers and Council wanted an investigation on that. Council Member Wood and City Manager Neibert did this as a joint venture. Mr. Wood stated that it was an interesting process. With considerable confusion on the part of Stern Brothers as to what the City actually requested. It was possible that they actually bid on the wrong thing.  After checking thoroughly, it was decided that BMO was the best for the Bonding we needed. Stern Brothers had erred on their proposal.  Council Member Wood thanked City Manager Neibert for the extra work and several phone calls he made to clear up the Bonding quotes received. Mayor Chesley stated that Stern Brothers had quoted a 30 year Bond not a 20 year Bond as requested. The amount of the first Bond Issue has not been determined. The Wells By Pass funding will be from the EPA Loan. Motion by Council Member Todd Piper to Adopt the Resolution Authorizing the Execution of BMO for our Bonding Agreements. Second by Council Member David Wood.  Yeas: Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Burgan and McEnaney.

 

Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Requesting IDOT Approval for Temporary Closure of Portions of Main Street and Broadway from 4th Street to 12th Street and from Harrison to Newby on 10th Street for the Purpose of the Annual Southern Illinois Harvest Festival Parade on October 16, 2010. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Approve the Resolution for the IDOT Street Closings on October 16, 2010 for the Annual Harvest Festival Parade as presented.  Second by Council Member Todd Piper.  Yeas: Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Burgan and McEnaney.

 

MAYOR

 

Mayor Mary Jane Chesley presented for Council’s advice and consent the Appointments of Jackie Sharp – City Clerk and David R. Leggans – City Attorney as the Freedom of Information Officers for the City. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Approve the Mayor’s Appointments for the Freedom of Information Officers as presented. Second by Council Member Todd Piper.  Yeas: Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Burgan and McEnaney.

 

CITY COUNCIL

 

Council Member David Wood addressed the audience and Council regarding the heat issues in Mt. Vernon.  He stated that the City does have three buildings that people can go for heat relief. The City Park, the Municipal West Building and City Hall people are welcome to come to these locations for heat relief.  Council Member Wood also urged people to check on other people daily to make sure they are alright. A lot of older or ill people need to be kept cool and be sure they are alright. He stated that there have been three incidents of children left in hot cars in the St. Louis area. He also said to check on all pets to make sure they are cool.

 

VISITORS/CITIZEN REQUESTS/ ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

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