City of Mt. Vernon City Council met July 2.
Here is the minutes as provided by the council:
The Mt. Vernon City Council held a Regular City Council Meeting on Monday, July 2, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at the Rolland W. Lewis Community Building, Veterans Park, 800 South 27th Street, Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
Mayor John Lewis called the meeting to order.
Ms. Linola Spann gave the Invocation.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Roll Call
Roll call showed present: Council Member Jeff May, Council Member Donte Moore, Council Member Jim Rippy, Council Member Mike Young, and Mayor John Lewis.
Presentation of Journals
The Journals for the June 18, 2018 Regular City Council Meeting and the June 22, 2018 City Council Special Meeting were presented to Council for any additions, deletions or corrections.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve the Journals as presented. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Visitors/Citizens Requests/Addresses from the Audience
Richardaé Foulks and Shareen Ladd spoke on the need for additional youth activities. Foulks stated that especially afterschool activities are needed such as placesfor youth to gather with arcade devices and other activities. Council Member Donte Moore explained that the City attempted to open up the old Armory for this reason. Moore assured them that their request has not fallen on deaf ears and the Council continues to work on a youth program. Mayor John Lewis explained that funding for this type of program has been cut back over the years. Lewis stated that the YMCA still hopes to open the Armory in the future.
Robert E. Carroll spoke on the refuse charges. He stated that citizens should be able to stop paying and opt out of recycling and bulk pickup because the services are not used. He said that it is unfair to pay for unneeded services. Mayor John Lewis explained that there is an opt-out clause in the current contract, but it would cost the City about $90,000 to evoke the clause. He stated that the City is looking into this issue and found that citizens are paying a couple of dollars each month for this service. When Lewis lived in the County, he paid $25 to $30 per month for trash pickup only, compared to $19 per month City residents pay for all services. About 42% of the citizens use the recycling service. Carroll stressed that the City government is charging citizens for a service that they do not want and do not use.
Approval of Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable
The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable were presented to Council for approval. Council Member Jim Rippy asked if information was received concerning the monthly $35,000 fee to HMG for construction inspection at the Chesley Industrial Park. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel reported that she is waiting on a report from City Engineer Brad Ruble. She stated that the fee is for all parts of the inspection, including the testing of the surface and materials. The construction inspection fee pays someone to ensure that the right materials are being used, the roads are being built correctly, and for the grant reports.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable in the amount of $686,917.44. Seconded by Council Member Jeff May. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Bids & Quotes
No bids or quotes were presented.
City Manager
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested permission to close 9th Street between Casey and Jordan for Christian Family Day on Friday, August 24th at 8:00 a.m. and Saturday, August 25th at 7:00 a.m. Tourism Director Angela Schrum spoke on the event. This event broke off last year from Fall Fest. Schrum spoke on how the committee was very conscious of the local businesses and residents.
Council Member Jim Rippy motioned to grant permission to close 9th Street between Casey and Jordan for Christian Family Day on Friday, August 24th at 8:00 a.m. and Saturday, August 25th at 7:00 a.m. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested approval of the year-end budget adjustments for fiscal year ended April 30, 2018. The budget adjustments were recommended by the City auditors, Krehbiel & Associates to limit audit exceptions for over-budgeted items. Finance Director Merle Hollmann explained that except for the Revolving Loan Fund and the Industrial Park Conservation TIF Fund, all adjustments were taken from revenue or other expenditure accounts to adjust the accounts that were over budget. Revolving Loan Fund and the Industrial Park Conservation TIF Fund shortfalls were taken from the Working Fund Balance in each fund. Council Member Jeff May asked for the ending General Corporate Working Fund Balance as of April 30, 2018. Hollmann stated that it is still too early to determine the final accurate Working Fund Balance. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that determining the Fund Balance is the first thing that the auditors are working on. Council Member Jim Rippy questioned the State of Illinois service charge. Hollmann explained that it represents the 2% administrative charge imposed by the State to collect Home Rule Sales Tax. The City was unaware of the charge until the State’s budget was passed last year. Council Member Donte Moore asked if the State was ever going to repeal the 2% fee. Bechtel stated that she heard that the State may reduce the fee to 1.5%, but no official notification was received. Hollmann stated that it only costs the State about 1% to collect the tax.
Council Member Jeff May motioned to approve the year-end budget adjustments for fiscal year ended April 30, 2018. Seconded by Council Member Jim Rippy. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested permission to waive the bidding requirements to purchase a pre-owned bucket truck. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel stated the City’s 1995 bucket truck died a couple of weeks ago. Funds are budgeted for a pre-owned bucket truck. Fleet Services Director Mike Shannon reported that a new truck with a one-year warranty runs between $170,000 to $211,000 depending on how it is equipped. The price of this 2013 Altech Freightliner Bucket Truck is $108,143 delivered with a 30-day warranty. Any maintenance that cannot be done in-house, the truck can be serviced in Wentzville, Missouri.
Council Member Jim Rippy motioned to waive the bidding requirements to purchase a pre-owned bucket truck. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
City Attorney
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for second reading an Ordinance Establishing Prevailing Wage Rates for the City of Mt. Vernon. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that this is a State requirement to adopt this Ordinance. The State of Illinois sets the rates.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve Ordinance #2018-32, an Ordinance Establishing Prevailing Wage Rates for the City of Mt. Vernon. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for first reading an Ordinance Amending Article 21, Section 21-500 Addressing the Installation of Small Wireless Facilities. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that the State of Illinois enacted Public Act 100-0585 (Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act) which preempts home rule authority and imposed mandatory regulations and a mandatory process for permitting and deploying small cell wireless facilities. The Public Act sets the application process and fees.
Council Member Jim Rippy motioned to suspend the rules to vote on an Ordinance. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to adopt Ordinance #2018-33, an Ordinance Amending Article 21, Section 21-500 Addressing the Installation of Small Wireless Facilities. Seconded by Council Member Jeff May. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution approving Two Agreements with Menard Inc. One Agreement deals with the water lines situated upon Menard Property. It states that Menard is responsible for the water lines and establishes that Menards will give the City access to the water meter which was installed inside of the building. The second Agreement relates to fire hydrants. This Agreement states that the fire hydrants are private, and that Menards will maintain the hydrants. Menards will be open to the public on Tuesday, July 2, 2018.
Council Member Jim Rippy motioned to approve the Resolution approving Two Agreements with Menard Inc. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of the Collective Bargaining Agreement with Laborer’s International Union of North America, the Southern & Central, Illinois District Council, and the Laborer’s Local #1197 and the Teamster’s Automotive, Petroleum and Allied Trades Local #50. The Agreements are four-year contacts which include a 1 ¾% pay increase plus an 1% longevity step increase equaling 2.77% total. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel stated one new item is that the City will compensate Class A CDL/Tanker Endorsement holders additional pay at $200 per year if at least six (6) full-time members have the endorsement. If at least twelve (12) full-time employees have the Class A CDL/Tanker Endorsement, the additional pay will be increased to $300 per year. Council Member Jim Rippy stated that he received assurances from the union that the archaic work rules will no long apply. Members will perform work that they are capable of doing as long as it is safe. Council Member Jeff May asked the cost of the contracts. Bechtel explained that if all the City contracts are settled at the same rate, the first-year cost increase will be $187,000 plus benefits. Over the four-year term of the contracts, the costs are estimated to be $1.2 million.
Council Member Mike Young motioned to approve the Resolution Authorizing the Execution of the Collective Bargaining Agreement with Laborer’s International Union of North America, the Southern & Central, Illinois District Council, and the Laborer’s Local #1197 and the Teamster’s Automotive, Petroleum and Allied Trades Local #50. Seconded by Council Member Jeff May. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The Agreement is a four-year contact which includes a 1 ¾% pay increase plus a 1% longevity step increase equaling 2.77% total. This contract does not include the incentive for the Class A CDL/Tanker Endorsements.
Council Member Jim Rippy motioned to approve the Resolution Authorizing the Execution of the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Mayor
Mayor John Lewis reported on the June statistics from the Public Utilities, Fire, and Police Departments.
The Police Department responded to 2,125 total events or 71 calls every day.
Arrests: 121 Criminal Charges: 113
Traffic Stops: 341, Resulting In 204 Citations (5 For Use of Cell Phones)
DUI Arrests: 12 Warrants Served: 24
Drug Charges: 25 Traffic Crashes: 93
Alarm Calls: 98 New Detective Cases: 73
Cleared Detective Cases: 32 With Arrests Ref. Detective Cases to States Attorney: 11
Crime Scene Callouts: 2 Tactical Unit Deployments: 6
anine Team Deployments: 18 Telecommunication Center Calls:
3,110 Non-Emergency & 489 Emergency Calls.
The Fire Department responded to 269 alarms.
EMS Alarms: 230 Fire Alarms: 30
Hazmat Alarms: 7 Rescue Alarms: 0
Motor Vehicle Accidents: 4 Structure Fires: 5
Mutual Aid: 0 10A Inspections: 72
Public Education Seminars: 6
The Public Utilities Department responded:
Water Main Breaks: 8 Repaired Fire Hydrants: 0
Work Orders: 290 JULIE Locates: 161
Replaced Fire Hydrants: 0 Repairs/Maintenance Service Connections: 7
Backed Up Sewer Mains: 4 Jetted Sewer Mains: 6
Televised Sewer Mains: 2,400 Linear Feet Repaired Sewer Mains: 2
Sewer Mains Cleaned: 3,200 Linear Feet Sanitary & Storm Mains Cleaned: 12
The Engineering and Inspection Department instituted a new procedure which divides the City into four quadrants. Each week one quadrant will be inspected for nuisances.
Nuisance Postings: 80 Abated Postings: 13
Properties Condemned: 6 Building Permits: 17 totaling $5,679,170
Mayor John Lewis extended a warm welcome to Menards. A soft opening was held today, and it will officially open on Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
City Council
Council Member Donte Moore asked how many union contracts remain unsettled. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel stated two remain, Fraternal Order of Police/Sworn Officers and Fraternal Order of Police/Telecommunicators.
Council Member Jim Rippy reported that in the next few weeks timelines should be established for the 7th Street reopening. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel stated that on June 28th, the ICC Board approved the grant.
Council Member Jim Rippy requested that information about the resolution of the Park Plaza be placed on the next Council agenda to resolve some controversy.
Visitors/Citizens Requests/Addresses from the Audience
Linola Spann invited everyone to attend this year’s neighborhood block party at 1904 Lamar Street. The third annual party will be held on August 11th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Last year 150 bookbags were given away and this year 300 bookbags.
Linola Spann asked if the City was going to pick up the limbs that fell during the recent storm. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that limbs will be picked up in the City’s right-of-way. If the limbs are on private property, the owner needs to dispose of the limbs either by weekly regular land waste or a landscaping contractor.
Executive Session
No Executive Session was held.
Adjournment
Council Member Jim Rippy motioned to adjourn. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:47 p.m.
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