Regular City Council Meeting
July 20, 2009
The Mt. Vernon City Council met in Regular Session on Monday July 20, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Rolland W. Lewis Community Building at Veterans Park.
Mayor Mary Jane Chesley called the Regular Council Meeting to order and Father Gene Tucker of Trinity Episcopal Church gave the invocation.
The Pledge of Allegiance was given.
Roll call showed present: Council Member Mary Burgan, Council Member Dennis McEnaney, Council Member David Wood and Mayor Mary Jane Chesley. Absent: Council Member Todd Piper.
The journals for the July 6, 2009 Regular City Council Meeting and the July 13, 2009 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 Dennis McEnaney. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Piper.
The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for July 2009 in the amount of $1,311,286.01 were presented for Council’s consideration. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for July 2009 in the amount of $1,311,286.01 as presented. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Piper.
CITY MANAGER
City Manager Ron Neibert presented for Council’s consideration the Final Plat for the Renaissance Hills Subdivision located at South Water Tower Circle. Mr. Dean Greenwalt of Greenwalt and Sons Construction was present to answer any questions Council may have regarding this Subdivision. Mr. Greenwalt stated that this is the same plat as the preliminary plat sent to Planning and Zoning last week. Motion by Council Member David Wood to approve the Final Plat for the Renaissance Hills Subdivision as presented. Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Piper.
CITY ATTORNEY
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Amending the Salary Ordinance. Mayor Mary Jane Chesley stated that a month or so ago, Council passed an Ordinance regarding all of the Department Heads salaries. The City Manager was not included in that Ordinance, as Council had not evaluated him. The evaluation has now been done and this Ordinance now gives the City Manager the same salary increase as the other Department Heads received. Mayor Chesley stated that Council asked to update the evaluation process and write an actual job description for this position. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance. Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Piper. Motion by Council Member David Wood to adopt Ordinance # 2009-23, an Ordinance Amending the Salary Ordinance. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Piper.
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Approving the Comprehensive Plan. Mayor Mary Jane Chesley stated that she was very excited that this plan is finally finished and ready for the public. It has been a long journey to get to this point. Mayor Chesley stated that this book is a means of getting us from point A, where we are now, to point B, where we want to be in the future. This plan is the result of a lot of hard work, a lot of teamwork, a lot of committee work. Mayor Chesley thanked all of the people who worked on the plan, all who offered suggestions, Dr. Nick Osborne for chairing the committee; Ryan Kanalan and Eric White of DMI for all of their hard work and support, and Council for all working on the committees and overseeing the process. Mayor Chesley stated that this is a plan for the City of Mt. Vernon by the people of Mt. Vernon. Mayor Chesley asked Council if they had any comments. Council Member David Wood stated that he also wanted to thank the Mayor and Council and all of the volunteers and committees. Special thanks to Nick Osborne and all of the Chairpersons of the committees. Mr. Wood stated that this is a living document and we will continue working on it along to revise and amend the plans. Council Member Mary Burgan stated that this is
very surreal for her, actually touching the document. Mrs. Burgan stated that she came into City Hall at one time and asked to see the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The one that she was given was many years old, older than she was. Mrs. Burgan stated that that is what made her decide to run for Council. Council Member Burgan stated that we physically began on this plan in February of last year. Mrs. Burgan too thanked all of the people who worked on the plan. Mayor Chesley stated that Council Member McEnaney and Council Member Piper came in towards the last but they jumped right in and took the places of Council Member Holt and Walker on their committees. Mayor Chesley asked Mr. Nick Osborne if he would like to say a few words. Mr. Osborne thanked the Mayor and Council for the opportunity to be a part of this Plan. He stated that it took many hours to come up with a document like this. Mr. Osborne thanked all of the committee chairmen, Greg Sims, Dorothy Wood, Marcia Scott and Mary Ellen Bechtel. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Piper. Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to Adopt Ordinance # 2009-24, an Ordinance Approving the Comprehensive Plan for the City of Mt. Vernon. Second by Council Member David Wood. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Piper.
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Approving a Loan Agreement for TIF Financing with Community First Bank. City Manager Ron Neibert stated that this is an agreement to finance $38,500.00 for Statewide Beauty Supply to reimburse them for money spent in the Downtown TIF. City Manager Ron Neibert stated that this is a beginning TIF and it will have money in the fund as it develops, but right now there is not enough money to pay State Beauty Supply. It will take five to seven years for the TIF to develop. Council Member David Wood stated that as this develops there would be funds so that the City will not have to borrow to reimburse the businesses. Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to Suspend the Rules to Vote on an Ordinance. Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Piper. Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to adopt Ordinance # 2009-25, an Ordinance Approving a Loan Agreement for TIF Financing with Community First Bank. Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Piper.
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Approving an Engineering Agreement with HMG Engineers. City Manager Ron Neibert stated that this is an agreement for the engineering services for the Veterans Memorial Drive/ Wells By Pass Sanitary Sewer Extension under the Interstate. The amount of sewer to be laid is 6,250 LF of 24” line. This is a Capital Project. The City has submitted an application to the EPA for a $1.1 million dollar grant for this project. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Approve the Resolution Approving an Engineering Agreement with
HMG Engineers for the Sanitary Sewer Line Under the Interstate. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Piper.
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Approving the Form of Retail Electric Supplier Agreement with MidAmerican Energy Company. City Manager explained that this agreement allows the City to purchase electricity from MidAmerican Energy Company. Mr. Neibert stated that the City of Centralia is already doing this. He stated that the City can save from $20 thousand to $26 thousand dollars a year by doing this. City Manager Neibert gave examples of the charges per KWH. Council Member Dennis McEnaney had worked with the City Manager on this project. The supplier has been around a while. Motion by Council Member Dennis McEnaney to Approve the Resolution Approving the Form of Retail Electric Supplier Agreement with Mid American Energy Company and the City of Mt. Vernon. Second by Council Member David Wood. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Piper.
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Authorizing the Temporary Closure of Newby Street from South 11th Street to South 12th Street for the Purpose of the Annual Woods Family Reunion on July 25, 2009. Mrs. Carmen Jones was present to represent the Woods Family in this request. Mrs. Jones stated that the City has granted them permission for the last several years for this. The street will be closed from 3 P.M. to 8 P.M. on Saturday. Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to Adopt the Resolution Authorizing the Temporary Closure of Newby Street from South 11th Street to South 12th Street on July 25, 2009 for the Annual Woods Family Reunion. Second by Council Member David Wood. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Piper.
MAYOR
CITY COUNCIL
VISITORS/CITIZEN REQUESTS/ ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to Adjourn this Regular City Council Meeting. Second by Council Member David Wood. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Piper.