City of Mt. Vernon, Illinois

Regular City Council Meeting

September 8, 2009

The Mt. Vernon City Council met in Regular Session on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Building at Veterans Park.

Mayor Mary Jane Chesley called the meeting to order and Father John Effert of St. Mary 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 August 17, 2009 Regular City Council Meeting and the August 24, 2009 City Council Workshop Meeting were presented for any additions, deletions or corrections.  Motion by Council Member Dennis McEnaney to approve the journals for the August 17, 2009 Regular City Council Meeting and the August 24, 2009 City Council Workshop Meeting as presented.  Second by Council Member Mary Burgan.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Piper.

The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable for September 2009 in the amount of $808,702.70 were presented for Council’s consideration. Council Member Dennis McEnaney questioned the $17,854.47 payment to EMC for the final dewatering payment. He asked what the entire cost was on that project.  City Manager Ron Neibert stated that the total cost was $869,000.00, which came in exactly $ 39.00 under budget. Council Member McEnaney asked also the status of the rehab funds for the City. City Manager Neibert stated that he did not have the exact figures right now; some of it is from IHDA and some from CDAP. He stated that he would send Council a breakdown of funds and what has been spent to date.  Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable in the amount of $ 808,702.70 as presented. Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Piper.

BIDS AND QUOTES

CITY MANAGER

City Manager Ron Neibert presented to Council a Request for Authorization to Seek Bids for Police Ammunition. Mr. Neibert explained that this is an annual request and an annual budgeted item. Motion by Council Member David Wood to Approve the Request for Authorization to Seek Bids for Police Ammunition.  Second by Council Member Mary Burgan.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley. Absent: Piper.

City Manager Ron Neibert presented a Request for Authorization to Seek Bids for Two Monitor/Defibrillators for the Fire Department. Mr. Neibert stated that this is a budgeted item and there are two that will be out of service by the end of the year. These are to replace them. Motion by Council Member David Wood to approve the Request for Authorization to Seek Bids for the Two Monitor/Defibrillators for the Fire Department. Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Piper.

City Manager Ron Neibert Requested an Executive Session to Discuss Personnel.

CITY ATTORNEY

City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for First Reading an Ordinance Declaring Certain Items as Surplus. City Manager Ron Neibert stated that these are vehicles and equipment that the City no longer has use for. There are several items to be auctioned. The auction will be held at the Vehicle Auction location at the Woodlawn exit of I-64. The auction company will handle all of the sales. The City has these sales as needed, usually once a year. This will allow money back into the departments to help purchase other vehicles.  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 Dennis McEnaney to Adopt Ordinance # 2009-28, an Ordinance Declaring Certain Items as Surplus. Second by Council Member David Wood.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Piper. 

City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Authorizing Water and Sewer Rate Increases. Mayor Mary Jane Chesley stated that at a Workshop Meeting on August 24, 2009 Council discussed the funding needed to maintain the Public Utility Departments. City Manager Ron Neibert stated that we spent $9.5 million for repairs and water losses. We will need funds to debt service capital improvements per the Comprehensive Plan.  Council  Member  David  Wood  stated that the percent of

raise always gets a lot of talk, but the $9.5 million figure is what the City will have to work with for repairs and new service and to develop new lines, etc. Mr. Wood stated that about ½ of the funds would be needed to repair and replace old lines that are in bad shape in the City. Also the water tower at Times Square is in real danger of having terrible problems and has to be replaced soon. Mayor Chesley stated that there are locations all over town that need work. The system lines wear out and the sewer system lines need work also. Council Member Burgan stated that if you look back the data shows the costs of repairs and hours of labor. The Comprehensive Plan reviewed the information and listed many items needing work. The last 3 years the cost of water losses for water breaks etc. was $930,000.00. This rate increase of 3% will come into effect on November 1 and there will be a 3-4% increase each November 1 on water and sewer only. These funds will be used only for water and sewer projects. First Reading only was held.

City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration the First Reading of an Ordinance Approving a Moratorium on Zoning. City Manager Ron Neibert stated that this is in line with the Comprehensive Plan. The Zoning in the Interchange area will be Planned Use Development. This Ordinance only puts a hold on any development in this area for 90 days for the City to tweak the standards needed for this area. It has to do with the ingress, egress and planning for the development. Council Member David Wood asked why 90 days, as this will impact land owners in the area. City Manager Neibert stated that it would take a Public Hearing before the changes can be made to the Zoning changes. This will take 45 to 60 days to do. The changes will need to go before the Planning Commission. City Manager Neibert stated that citizens would need to go to the public meetings to speak.

Rick Heck of Mt. Vernon spoke regarding some property he and others own in the projected area. He stated that the City should let the landowners become a part of the process. They all paid a lot of money for their property in this area and have owned it for a long time and they don’t think anyone should tell them what they can or cannot put on the property. Mayor Chesley stated that she does want to get input from the property owners. Council Member Wood stated that there were numerous meetings of the Land Use Committee for the Comprehensive Plan and did not show up for any of those meetings. Mayor Chesley stated that Mr. Heck or any other concerned property owners could come by her office or City Manager’s office to talk about this. Council Member David Wood stated that all zoning requirements tell a property owner what they can and cannot do with their property.  This is just going to update the certain zoning requirement. Council does this for the betterment of the community. 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 David Wood to Approve Ordinance    # 2009-29, an Ordinance Approving a Moratorium on Zoning. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Piper.

City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Approving the “Commerce Commission Stipulated Agreement 1294”. City Manager Ron Neibert stated that this is an agreement between the City, Norfolk Southern Railway and IDOT regarding the crossing located on North Chestnut Lane. The original agreement included the Township, then it was discovered that this crossing is inside the City limits. Mr. Neibert stated that MFT money will be used for this project and it is for signaling only, not repair to the crossing. Council Member David Wood stated that it is encouraging to see the City, the railroad and IDOT all working together. Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to Adopt the Resolution Approving the “Commerce Commission Stipulated Agreement 1294” regarding the Railroad Crossing at North Chestnut Lane. Second by Council Member Dennis McEnaney.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Piper.

City Attorney David R. Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Approving a Contract Regarding Cell Phone Service for the City and Alltel. Mr. Neibert explained that this agreement is for a two-year extension for Alltel service for the City cell phones. Mr. Neibert stated that there is no change in the rates in the last 2 years service. Council Member McEnaney asked what the costs of the phones are for the City. Mr. Neibert stated that the cost is $1,700.00 per month. Motion by Council Member McEnaney to adopt the Resolution Approving a Contract Regarding the City’s Cell Phone Services. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Piper.

MAYOR

Mayor Mary Jane Chesley announced that there would be a City Council Workshop Meeting held on Monday, September 14, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. at City Hall.  The purpose of this Workshop Meeting is for Discussion of Infrastructure Planning and Financing.

CITY COUNCIL

VISITORS/ CITIZEN REQUESTS / ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE

Mr. Bobby Farris of Mt. Vernon asked what the City plans to do with Horace Mann School. He said it is just sitting there empty and no one is using it. City Manager Ron Neibert stated that the City is looking into what can be done there. It appears that there is asbestos in the building and at this time it can’t be used.

Mr. Farris asked when the Interchange would be opened.  Mr. Neibert stated that it should be ready in 5 or 6 weeks.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Motion by Council Member Mary Burgan to go into Executive Session to Discuss Personnel.  Second by Council Member David Wood.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Piper.

ADJOURNMENT

Following Executive Session, Council returned to open session at 8:12 p.m.  Motion by Council Member Dennis McEnaney to adjourn the Regular City Council Meeting.  Second by Council Member Mary Burgan.  Yeas: Burgan, McEnaney, Wood and Chesley.  Absent: Piper.