Regular City Council Meeting
July 6, 2009
The Mt. Vernon City Council met in Regular Session on Monday July 6, 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 Reverend Travis Perry 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.
The journals for the May 11, 2009, Reconvened on May 26, 2009, Reconvened on June 12, 2009 City Council Workshop Meeting, the June 15, 2009 Regular City Council Meeting and the June 17, 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 Todd Piper. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.
The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for July 2009 in the amount of $383,931.40 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 $383,931.40 as presented. Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.
City Manager Ron Neibert stated that bids had been returned for Banking Services. Finance Director Merle Hollmann reported that requests for proposal were sent out to all eleven banks in town. Responses were received from three
of those banks: Peoples National Bank, Fifth Third Bank & Old National Bank. Peoples National Bank was the only one that met the specifications provided by
the City. Mr. Hollmann recommended that Council approve Peoples National Bank for a three-year contract with options to renew for additional three-year periods. Motion by Council Member David Wood to accept the proposal from Peoples National Bank for the three-year contract. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.
City Manager Ron Neibert stated that one bid had been received for the Painting of the Municipal West Building. Robnett Painting of Centralia bid $8,550.00. Mr. Neibert recommended accepting the bid. Motion by Council Member Dennis McEnaney to accept the bid of $8,550.00 from Robnett for the Painting of the Municipal West Building. Second by Council Member David Wood. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.
City Manager Ron Neibert presented to Council bid results for Emulsion Tank for Public Works:
Hampton Equipment $39,000.00
Equipment Marketing Company $45,950.00
Department Head Matt Fauss recommended Hampton Equipment with the low bid of $39,000.00 for the 6,000-gallon tank. Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to accept the bid of $39,000.00 from Hampton Equipment for the Emulsion Tank for Public Works. Second by Council Member David Wood. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.
City Manager Ron Neibert requested Authorization to Seek Bids for Five Mobile Data Terminals for the Police Department. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Grant the Request to Seek Bids for Five Mobile Data Terminals for the Police Department. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.
City Manager Ron Neibert asked that an Executive Session be held following the Regular Council Meeting Regarding Land Acquisition, Personnel Matters and Litigation.
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Approving a Phone Agreement with AT&T ILEC. Motion by Council Member Dennis McEnaney Adopt the Resolution Approving Phone Agreement
with AT&T ILEC. Second by Council Member Todd Piper. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Allocating $20,000.00 MFT Funds. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Approve a Resolution Allocating $20,000.00 MFT Funds. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.
Mayor Mary Jane Chesley and Council honored MVTHS athlete Margo Richardson with a framed proclamation for her outstanding achievements in track and field.
Council Member David Wood spoke about Hope In Christ Homeless Center operated by Hope Stuckey and its need for items such as a copy machine, refrigerator, stove, pickup truck, volunteers for plumbing, electric, etc. Mr. Wood stated that this is an excellent organization and if anyone has anything to donate to contact the City Manager’s office.
Mick Eddington, President of the Southern Illinois Chapter 27 of ABATE of Illinois Inc., a motorcycle rights and charitable organization that has been in Mt. Vernon since the mid 80’s, commented that the organization is perceiving that Mt. Vernon is becoming “biker unfriendly”. He stated that a lot of their members have been ticketed recently for “loud pipes” even though “loud pipes” save lives. Mr. Eddington said a lot of people are concerned that this has something to do with the resolution that was just passed on the loud stereos which he hopes is not the case. He further stated that if this continues the organization will have to move its’ money and charitable works out of Mt. Vernon
Rhonda Tupper, a 15 year ABATE Chapter 27 member, stated that she does the United Methodist Children’s Home. Every year she gets donations from the community to buy and wrap Christmas gifts for the United Methodist Children’s Home. They are the only gifts that the children at the home receive for Christmas. She said that she would hate to take it to another town, but it is the City’s choice.
Lester Tupper, an ABATE member, stated that one of the benefits of ABATE is that it gives it’s members legal assistance. He stated that their ABATE lawyer
told ABATE members that the Illinois State Statute that the tickets are being written on is unenforceable. He said ABATE will help every one of these ticketed individuals take their ticket to a jury trial.
Bill Ingram of Performance Cycles spoke next. He stated that his friends and customers support him and he wants to support them by speaking tonight. He feels that the bikers are being targeted and the police need to be a little more lenient about the tickets.
Roger Bodine stated that he belongs to a motorcycle club in southern Illinois that has approximately 60 members. He said that within the last two weeks 30 of the members have received tickets for their pipes. He said that the police are suppose to rod them with their nightsticks to see if they have baffles but they’re not doing it. He feels that just because they might have a little bit of a loud bike, they are picking on them. Mr. Bodine said that they do a lot of runs through Mt. Vernon for “Toys for Tots” and other charities and they are getting ready to quit coming through Mt. Vernon.
Mayor Chesley asked Police Chief Chris Mendenall to speak. The Chief said that first; this statue is a State Statute, not a City Ordinance that has been on the books since 1970. The Department has not aggressively enforced it over the years because we really haven’t gotten that many complaints on it. The last paragraph of the law reads, “No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise of such vehicle above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle.” Chief Mendenall said a lot of these “after market” pipes are going to qualify however; he knows that they do have baffles for those vehicles. Instructions were given to Officers to ticket people that abuse the revving of the engines in town and around residential areas. The Chief said the Department is not harassing people or anything like that. He also said that the law is the law and if your attorneys say they can beat it in Court then that’s what I suggest you do.
ABATE Attorney George Tinkham addressed the Council and asked for a policy to be developed and further offered his help in drafting of such policy.
Both Mayor Mary Jane Chesley and City Manager Ron Neibert asked for a meeting with representatives to continue dialogue and reach a suitable conclusion.
Motion by Council Member David Wood to go into Executive Session Regarding Land Acquisition and Personnel Matters and Litigation. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley
Council returned to open session at 8:40 p.m. following the Executive Session.
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.