City Council Workshop Meeting
April 1, 2009
The Mt. Vernon City Council met for a Budget Workshop Meeting on Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1100 Main Street, Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
Mayor Mary Jane Chesley called the Workshop Meeting to order and stated that the purpose of this meeting was for discussion of the 2009/2010 Budget.
Roll call showed present: Council Member Mary Burgan, Council Member Mike Walker, Council Member David Wood and Mayor Mary Jane Chesley. Absent: Council Member Shirilyn Holt.
Park Director George Bryant was present for his budget review. Finance Director Merle Hollmann stated that the Park would like to hire one full-time employee to replace the one man that they were short last year. Mr. Hollmann spoke regarding the temporary labor needed to mow, run the pool and the daycare program. Discussion was held regarding making Wes Plummer salaried rather than hourly. The Administrative Assistant Mary Ann is retiring. Travel was discussed. Wes needs to go to training to get his Parks and Recreation Certification. That will be a lot of help to George and Wes will be more knowledgeable in the Parks and Recreation Department.
Mayor Chesley asked what condition the pool is in. Mr. Bryant stated that the pool is in need of a lot of work. There is leakage in the pressure lines, liner bubbles, it looses ¾ inch of water daily and the deck is in bad shape and is sagging. A new pool is estimated to cost $2 million dollars.
Mr. Bryant stated that he would like to put in a drinking fountain at Veterans Park. It would be a handicapped accessible fountain and would be located near the playgrounds and restroom. The fountain can be locked if needed and the cost is $5,000.00.
Council Member Shirilyn Holt entered the meeting at 4:15 p.m.
Mr. Bryant continued to speak regarding the work they have done to alleviate the storm water drainage near the building and to send the water back towards the lake. Council Member Mike Walker asked about new restrooms by the ball diamond on the South end of the park. Council Member Shirilyn Holt asked about restrooms for Dawson Park. Mr. Bryant stated that there is nothing in the works for Dawson Park at this time. It will be however in the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Bryant discussed new trashcans for the parks. Council Member Mike Walker asked if there were plans to finally work on the inside of the building this year, and if so would that include the kitchen update. Mr. Bryant stated that yes; there are plans to work on the paneling, insulation and kitchen at the building. Also there are termites in the building and they are having them treated now.
Plans are to rework the path around the park for walking. They are currently putting in rock to shore up the path around the lake so it can be resurfaced and made from a 3-foot wide path to an 8-foot wide path.
Council Member David Wood asked about a softball team for the high school girls wanting to play at Lincoln Park. Mr. Bryant explained that there were a lot of things that would have to be changed to set up a field for this. The maintenance costs would also raise due to the upkeep. Mr. Bryant stated that it would be good if the high school helped out with the maintenance of the fields. The high school has also asked that the City contribute $15,000.00 for this team. Discussion on if anyone else could use the field. Mr. Bryant stated that he would get estimates for Council on the upkeep and maintenance of the ball fields broken down for each field, so they can see how the labor and expenses work.
Police Chief Chris Mendenall was on hand to discuss his department’s budget. Finance Director Merle Hollmann stated that there are 58 full-time officers in the department. They are requesting 2 new full-time officers for the next year. Chief Mendenall stated that it takes one year from date of hire for the employee to be able to work alone. Council Member Wood asked if, with the two new hires, would the bicycle patrol be back up to working. Chief Mendenall stated that he hopes in 2010 the bicycle patrol would be back up and running. Chief Mendenall stated that he currently has one man in Iraq and 3 off with injuries. This is reflected in the high overtime.
Chief Mendenall stated that it is very expensive to send officers to PTI. The State Police Academy is less expensive. A problem is that once we send an officer to training, they work for a little while then sometimes go to the State Police because of better pay and benefits. Chief Menenall stated that if an officer
leaves before a certain amount of time, they are required to pay back the City for part of their training.
Chief Mendenall stated that they also need to replace a telecommunicator that has left recently. City Manager Ron Neibert spoke regarding the parking attendant and possibly making her full-time. She has been helping with the tow fees. Mr. Neibert stated that we have hopes of recovering $35,000.00 per year from this program.
Council Member Shirilyn Holt asked about diversity training for the officers. City Manager Neibert stated that they are kept on training and that the Human Resources Department works to schedule training for all of the City employees.
Upgrades for computers and crime scene cameras were discussed. Improvements to the firing range were discussed. The range is used by the police department, the sheriffs department and the State Police at times. The range is located near the animal shelter on East Perkins. The copy machine at the P.D. was discussed and if it is less expensive to lease or purchase.
Council discussed the K-9 purchase for a dog. Chief Mendenall has asked for 5 new squad cars for next year. These will be replacements.
The health insurance for retirees is the big-ticket item in this budget Mayor Chesley asked about the costs when the retiree begins Medicare. Is there a Medicare Supplement Policy? City Manager explained that since we are self-insured, it is better for us to charge the entire amount for the Medicare retirees, because it all goes back into our funds.
Discussion was held regarding one firefighter on disability that the City has to pay insurance for his entire family. This is an Illinois law that was passed, there are others being considered for this, however the City is trying to fight it. If the City wins the suit, the employee will have to repay all of the money back to the City. The ‘line of duty’ is a concern because the State is trying to change this to even include sweeping, moping or doing housework.
Finance Director Merle Hollmann stated that we have GASB compliance in the next budget. Council discussed new mats for the downstairs floors.
Street lighting costs were discussed. The cost of the replacement lights and the utility charges also.
The costs for the Animal Warden, gasoline and the Animal Shelter were discussed. Council Member David Wood asked about the Animal Shelter showing proof of their expenditures, etc. He stated that he is sure they pick up a lot more animals for the County than they do inside the City. He asked Merle if he gets itemized statements and billings from them. Rewiring City Hall for computers was discussed and the repair of computers by Kunce Computers was discussed.
The North Davidson Drive Project was discussed. Council discussed the Bright and Beautiful funding. City Manager Neibert stated that we had asked for explanations of where the City’s monthly funding was spent and she never complied with the request so the City stopped the checks. She still has not offered any explanations. The recycling center is closed as far as anyone knows.
Council Member Walker asked about littering all over town.
Mayor Chesley and Council Member Shirilyn Holt left the meeting at 6:00 p.m.
City Manager’s budget was discussed. There was not much change in this year’s budget. A small raise in the travel to IML was put back into last year’s budget, as he did not attend. Mr. Neibert stated that he needs new tires for his vehicle, so that is in the vehicle portion. This budget came in under by $5,000.00 this year.
Discussion was held regarding the various revolving loans. The working fund balance of this fund, the revenue, expenditures and funds available were discussed. Any loans that could be on default were discussed and the possibility of recovery from them was discussed. The balance of the funds were discussed and how much was left for lending. Discussion of the Infinite Access loan was held. Discussion of the Wingman Loan was held.
Each TIF is handled on their own. At this point there is no activity on this loan due to the project being on hold or not going to continue.
This TIF is for several ongoing projects. The one in 08/09 was LLL Holdings for State Beauty Supply. Jay Koch has had a couple of TIF projects as well as Brian
Edmison. Hopefully several more people will take advantage of this project and use the TIFs.
GENERAL CORPORATE
DEBT SERVICE
The debt service was discussed. The loan from Peoples Bank for equipment in the amount of $275,000.00 for a 4-year term was discussed. The principal and the interest on the loan. An $860,000.00 loan for the dewatering project was borrowed also. Discussion was held regarding a possible 3% per year raise in the PUD department, water & sewer rates to help cover any raises in the accounts. 3% will bring in $135,000.00. There will be no raise in the trash service costs for three years. The 3% is like a COL raise for each year on the utility bills.
The CDAP Fund is for the IHDA and CDAP rehabilitation to houses in the city. The rehabs are handled by Crosswalk. They take the applications and decide which homes to rehab.
Motion by Council Member David Wood to adjourn this City Council Workshop Meeting. Second by Council Member Mary Burgan. Yeas: Burgan, Walker and Wood. Absent: Holt and Chesley.