City of Mt. Vernon, Illinois

Regular City Council Meeting

Monday, August 02, 2010

 

 

 

 

The Mt. Vernon City Council met in Regular Session on Monday, August 2, 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.  Pastor Travis Perry of the Bonnie & Ina United Methodist Churches 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.  Absent:

 

The journals for the July 12, 2010 City Council Workshop and the July 19, 2010 Regular City Council Meeting was presented to Council for any additions, corrections or deletions.  Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to approve the Journal for the July 12, 2010 City Council Workshop as presented.  Second by Council Member Todd Piper.  Motion by Council Member Todd Piper to approve the Journal for the July 19, 2010 Regular City Council Meeting as presented.  Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney. Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Absent:

 

The Consolidated Vouchers for the Accounts Payable for July 30, 2010 in the amount of $ 471,134.87 were presented for Council’s consideration.  Council Member McEnaney asked about the purchase of mechanical gate valve and valve boxes for the Public Utilities Department from HD Supply.  City Manager Ron Neibert responded that those are for the North Davidson Project.  Council Member McEnaney also asked about the water capacity in the area of the new hospital in regards to the Midwest Meter purchase.  City Manager Neibert responded that the water capacity is adequate.  Motion by Council Member Todd Piper to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for July 2010 in the amount of $ 471,134.87 as presented.  Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney. Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Absent:

 

BIDS AND QUOTES

 

 

CITY MANAGER

 

City Manager Ron Neibert stated that Police Chief Mendenall is at the meeting to present two Police Department Awards.  Chief Mendenall presented the Officer of the Year Award to Officer Ryan McKee.  Chief Mendenall stated that the next award, the Medal of Valor, has never been presented by the City before.  Chief Mendenall stated this award is given to an employee for an act of heroism at their own risk and their own lives in the line of duty.  Chief Mendenall presented a brief description of the incident which qualified the officer for this award.  Chief Mendenall presents the Medal of Valor to Officer Justin Carder.  Councilman Wood stated he had the pleasure of riding along for a couple of hours with Officer Carder and stated he is an excellent officer.  Councilman Wood also has spent time with Officer McKee and he commends both Officers for their service. 

 

City Manager Ron Neibert presented for Council’s consideration a Request to Approve the Motor Fuel Tax Funds Audit for Year 2009. Councilman Wood asks about adjustments.  City Manager Ron Neibert stated there were only minor adjustments.  Councilman McEnaney asked about the recommendation for the $12,000.00 supplemental resolution.  City Manager Ron Neibert stated that will be done.  There is discussion about this being a procedural audit.  Motion by Council Member Dennis McEnaney to approve the Request to Approve the Motor Fuel Tax Funds Audit for Year 2009 as presented.  Second by Council Member Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney. Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Absent:

 

CITY ATTORNEY

 

City Attorney Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Approving Tax Increment Redevelopment Finance Agreements. Councilman Todd Piper asks what the sign will be used for.  Mayor Chesley asks Cyndy Mitchell to speak about the sign.  Ms. Mitchell explains the sign will be located near I57 and Route 15 to welcome people and guide them to the historical downtown area.  Mayor Chesley talks about the work that has started in the downtown area with the first rounds of TIF funds.  Councilman Piper asks about the total for these projects and if these are the last TIF allotments for this year.   City Manager Ron Neibert states it represents $60,000.00, the allotments are the last for the fiscal year from funds received last fall and once the tax bills are paid in September and October more funds will be received.  Councilman Wood inquires as to the balance of the funds and City Manager Ron Neibert states that the balance should be zero with the exception of some possible interest and states the City is obligated to use the funds.  Mayor Chesley asks if Stewart’s Muffler is in the first wave of TIF projects and what the status is.  City Manager Ron Neibert responds and states that is being done through General Corporate rather than TIF and they are waiting on the contractor to train & certify several new employees on asbestos removal.  Councilman Piper asked if the TIF applications are reviewed by committee and if these were the recommendations.  City Manager Ron Neibert stated they were.  City Manager Ron Neibert requests suspension of the rules.  Motion by Council Member Todd Piper to suspend the rules.  Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney. Yeas: McEnaney. Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Burgan abstained.  Absent:  Further motion by Council Member Todd Piper to recommend adopting the ordinance to approve the Tax Increment Redevelopment Finance Agreements as presented.  Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney. Yeas: McEnaney. Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Burgan abstained.  Absent:

 

City Attorney Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Approving an Agreement with Norfolk Southern Railroad.  City Manager Ron Neibert reports that this is an opportunity for the City to work with the railroad and the Interstate Commerce Commission to help make some of our railroad crossings and little bit softer.  This will include some installation and upgrading of light signals and the crossing.  There is no cost on our part of the direct railroad construction but there is some work on the approaches to the railroad that are outside of the right of way of the railroad that we will be required to make.  They will be less that $30,000.00 and will not have to be budgeted or obligated until the next fiscal year.  Mayor Chesley asks if this covers the crossings at Casey and Jordan Streets.  City Manager Ron Neibert confirms it does.  Councilman McEnaney ask if the total cost for this project is over $600,00.00, as indicated in the stipulated agreement and asks who will supply that.  City Manager Ron Neibert states that is correct and it will be supplied through the ICC and Norfolk Southern.  Councilwoman Burgan asked how these two locations were chosen.  City Manager Ron Neibert states he does not know how they are chosen but the ICC receives the calls and complaints, then they send the lists and these are the ones ready to be done.  Mayor Chesley thanks those that called in the complaints and acknowledges that the calls work.  Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to approve the Resolution Approving the Agreement with Norfolk Southern Railroad. Second by Council Member Todd Piper. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney. Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Absent:

 

City Attorney Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Granting Consent to a Lake Miller Leaseholder to Obtain a Mortgage.  Mr. Howard reports that this does not affect any interest in our underlying land.  Mayor Chesley asks if this is normal and has been done before.  Mr. Howard states that it is.  Motion by Council Member Todd Piper to approve the Resolution Granting Consent to a Lake Miller Leaseholder to Obtain a Mortgage as presented.  Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney. Yeas: McEnaney. Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Burgan abstained.  Absent:

 

 

City Attorney Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Establishing a Time and Place for a Public Hearing to Consider a Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Plan and Project for the Proposed Industrial Park Conservation Area.  City Manager Ron Neibert states that this is one of the steps in the legal process the City is required to do to establish the TIF District on the west side of the interstate.  This resolution will be followed up by the meeting of the Joint Review Board public hearing on September 20th and this week they will be sending out certified and non-certified mailings to property owners in the effected area and residents that live adjacent to the proposed area. Mayor Chesley addresses the topic of the time table and states we are adhering to the timetable.  Councilman Piper asks what the next step is and City Manager Ron Neibert states it is the mailings that were discussed, then the Joint Review Board meeting which is made up of representatives from each certain taxing bodies that are representing the different proposed districts.  The board will review the redevelopment plan and determine whether or not the area qualifies for a TIF District.  Councilman McEnaney states he understands the meeting is before the regular City Council meeting on September 20th.  Mayor Chesley states she understands the next resolution is for a meeting on the same date at 6:45 pm.  Councilwoman Burgan asks if these two resolutions can be presented together but separately.  City Manager states that they can present them together for approval as long as the documents are separate.  Mr. Howard presents for Council’s consideration a Resolution Establishing a Time and Place for a Public Hearing to Consider a Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Plan and Project for the Proposed Route 15/I57 Redevelopment Project Area.  Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to approve Resolution Establishing a Time and Place for a Public Hearing to Consider a Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Plan and Project for the Proposed Industrial Park Conservation Area and Resolution Establishing a Time and Place for a Public Hearing to Consider a Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Plan and Project for the Proposed Route 15/I57 Redevelopment Project Area as presented.  Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney. Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Absent:

 

 

MAYOR

 

Mayor Mary Jane Chesley presents a Proclamation for National Night Out for August 3, 2010.  Mayor Chesley asks Chief Mendenall to speak about the National Night Out program.  Chief Mendenall states the event will be held between 5:30 and 8:30 pm and will include a cookout, games for the kids, a giant slide, a miniature train to take kids around the park, face painting, snow cones and cotton candy, a canine demonstration, and also child fingerprinting will be provided.  Chief Mendenall encourages everyone to bring their family and have a good time.  Councilman Wood asks if the Sheriff’s Department also participates and Chief Mendenall states the Sheriff’s Department has Red Ribbon Week that they put on, however, there are other organizations that will be joining the City for National Night Out.

CITY COUNCIL

 

VISITORS/CITIZEN REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

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