City of Mt. Vernon, Illinois

Regular City Council Meeting

August 3, 2009

 

 

 

The Mt. Vernon City Council met in Regular Session on Monday, August 3, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Rolland W. Lewis Community Building at Veterans Park.

 

Mayor Mary Jane Chesley called the meeting to order. Reverend Travis Perry of the Bonnie and 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. 

 

The journal for the July 20, 2009 Regular City Council Meeting was presented to the Council for any additions, corrections or deletions. Motion by Council Member Todd Piper to approve the journal for the July 20, 2009 Regular City Council Meeting as presented.  Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.

 

The Consolidate Vouchers for Accounts Payable for August 2009 in the amount of $869,975.79 were presented to Council for their consideration. Motion by Council Member David Wood to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for the August Accounts Payable in the amount of $869,975.79 as presented. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.

 

BIDS AND QUOTES

 

City Manager Ron Neibert reported to Council that three bids had been received for the seven Demolitions advertised. The locations of the demolitions are 504 S. 18th Street, 419 S. 18th Street, 1009 S. 6th Street, 613 Bell Street, 716 Herbert Street, 603 S. 22nd Street, and 2015 Conger. The bids received were as follows:

 

Kenneth Hails – Texico, IL                         $ 20,884.00

 

 

 

S & S Excavating – Waltonville, IL           $ 21,975.00

 

Rollie Excavting – Woodlawn, IL              $ 29,000.00

 

City Manager Ron Neibert stated that his recommendation was to go with the low bid of Kenneth Hails in the amount of $ 20,884.00. Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to accept the low bid of Kenneth Hails in the amount of $ 20,884.00 for the demolition of the seven buildings located at the following addresses: 504 S. 18th Street, 419 S. 18th Street, 1009 S. 6th Street, 613 Bell Street, 716 Herbert Street, 603 S. 22nd Street and 2015 Conger. Second by Council Member David Wood.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.  Mayor Mary Jane Chesley stated that she is very glad to see this program back.  City Manager Neibert stated that there should still be enough funds in the budget for this year to do another eight to ten buildings.

 

CITY MANAGER

 

City Manager Ron Neibert presented for Council’s consideration a Request for Authorization to Seek Financing for the Purchase and Improvements of Real Estate Property. Mr. Neibert explained that this is to seek funding for the purchase of the Southern Asphalt property located at 12th Street and Casey. The City has been negotiating the purchase of this property for quite some time.  The Public Works, Vehicle Maintenance and Public Utility Departments would be located here. Mr. Neibert stated that the building on 20th Street is in terrible shape and this would be a very nice location for the offices and vehicles to operate out of.  The improvement request is to make necessary changes to the buildings. The amount needed is $225,000.00 for a 20-year amortization. This request is to go out for interest rates for the amount. Council Member David Wood asked why a 20 year loan, why not a 5 or 10 year. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Approve the Request for Authorization to Seek Financing for the Purchase and Improvements of Real Estate Property for the Southern Asphalt Property at 12th Street and Casey. Second by Council Member Todd Piper. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.

 

City Manager Ron Neibert presented for Council’s consideration a Request for Approval for the Motor Fuel Tax Audit for the 2008 Year. Mr. Neibert stated that this is an audit done annually and sent to us by the IDOT for approval. Mr. Neibert stated that the only change was a $9,800.00 amount that came out of MFT that should have been out of General Corporate. This will be handled by the Finance Department. Council Member David Wood asked when this payment error was made. Mr. Neibert stated that he would check and find out. Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to Approve the Motor Fuel Tax Fund Audit for 2008 as presented. Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.

 

 

 

CITY ATTORNEY

 

City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Approving an Engineering Agreement with Round Table Design of Mt. Vernon. This agreement is for services relating to the design of the Shiloh Drive Lift Station. Mr. Neibert stated that this is for a lift station and a small forced main. It is so Intermountain Electronics can build in Mt. Vernon. They will build on 60 acres of former City property on Shiloh Drive. This will also provide sewer service to the balance of the area on Shiloh Drive. Motion by Council Member Dennis McEnaney to Approve Resolution for the Engineering Agreement with Round Table Design for the Lift Station and small forced main on Shiloh Drive. Second by Council Member Todd Piper.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley. Council Member David Wood stated that it is so nice to see some of these projects from the talking stages to the doing stages. Mayor Chesley stated that reality is setting in.

 

City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Approving the Purchase of Real Estate from Southern Illinois Asphalt. City Manager Ron Neibert explained that this is the property at 12th Street and Casey that was talked about previously. The property will be used for the Public Works, Vehicle Maintenance and Public Utilities Departments. The City has been trying to purchase the property for quite a while. Council Member Todd Piper stated his concerns about the Phase I and Phase II. City Manager Neibert stated that everything has been taken care of and there are no environmental concerns.  Council Member Dennis McEnaney asked if the purchase price was $175,000.00. Mr. Neibert stated that was correct. Council Member David Wood expressed his gratitude to Mr. Neibert, the Council and the City Attorney regarding the negotiation and work done on this project. He stated that the City held to their guns and it all worked out well. Motion by Council Member Todd Piper to Adopt the Resolution Approving the Purchase of Real Estate from Southern Illinois Asphalt. Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Piper, Wood and Chesley.

 

MAYOR

 

Mayor Mary Jane Chesley stated that she had a proclamation for the Police Department’s National Night Out. Mayor Chesley stated that this is the 26th Annual Night Out on August 4, 2009. Mayor Chesley read the proclamation and presented it to Police Chief Chris Mendenall. Chief Mendenall stated that Tuesday night August 4, 2009 would be the National Night Out at Veterans Park. There would be a lot of entertainment, food, games, etc. for the children and families.  Chief Mendenall stated that he hopes to have good weather. The time is from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  He invited everyone  to  come  out  and  enjoy the

 

evening.  Mayor Mary Jane Chesley stated that this is a good evening for a good purpose and good public relations.

 

Mayor Chesley addressed the problem of littering.  She stated that it is everywhere in the City and the City Wide Cleanup once a year helps, but it won’t stop it. She would like Council to address the problem and check into the City’s Ordinance and maybe put some teeth into it so people will think more about the problem and do more about it. Council concurred.

 

CITY COUNCIL

 

VISITORS/ CITIZEN REQUESTS/ ADDRESSES FROM THE PUBLIC

 

Mr. Lonnie Buttrum of 120 East Perkins addressed Council regarding the problem of the railroad crossings near his home. He stated that there are several crossings that have spikes loose, missing, or just thrown along the side of the tracks. When you drive across the crossings, your car hits bottom and shakes and someone is going to do a lot of damage to their vehicle because of the tracks. Mr. Buttrum stated that he had called the railroad companies several times and they say that they will look into it, but nothing has been done. He stated that he would like for the City to get involved and try to push the railroads to do some work on all of the crossings in Mt. Vernon. City Manager Ron Neibert stated that this was discussed a few weeks ago at a Council meeting and he explained that the railroad companies have the control of the crossings and it is their job to maintain them. He stated that he could give Mr. Buttrum an address or phone number for the ICC to call and possibly make a complaint. Mayor Chesley stated that she had spoken to Senator John Jones and he was going to check into the problem also.  Mayor Chesley stated that maybe the City Manager could put the ICC number in the newspapers so people could call and inform them of the problems. City Manager Neibert stated that there is also a website for the ICC people can contact.

 

Mr. Bobbie Farris asked when the new overpass road would be open.  He stated that he is anxious to see the first vehicles go over the roads. City Manager Neibert stated that it should be mid-September.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

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