Mt. Vernon City Council met October 1.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
Mayor John Lewis called the meeting to order.
Pastor Harold Quick of West Salem Trinity Church 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 Journal for the September 17, 2018 Regular City Council Meeting was presented for approval.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve the Journal as presented. Seconded by Council Member Jeff May. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Visitors/Citizens Requests/Addresses From The Audience:
No comments were heard.
Approval Of Consolidated Vouchers For Accounts Payable:
The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable were presented to Council for approval. Council Member Jeff May asked about Steward Irby’s payable. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that it represents payment for the new City-wide water meters. About sixty water meters have been installed during the pilot portion to ensure everything is working properly.
Council Member Jim Rippy complimented Bechtel on supplying the report of overtime trends by City departments. The report shows a lot of progress in overtime reduction.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable in the amount of $1,642,307.19. Seconded by Council Member Jim Rippy. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Bids & Quotes:
No bids and quotes were presented.
City Manager:
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented Krehbiel and Associates’ City Audit Report for April 30, 2018. Greg Carleton of Krehbiel and Associates reviewed the audit at the September 17, 2018 City Council Meeting. Finance Director Merle Hollmann was present to answer questions at tonight’s meeting. Council Member Jim Rippy asked if there is a restriction on the number of years an auditor can audit the City. Bechtel replied that there is no policy and the City recently signed another three-year agreement with Krehbiel and Associates. Council Member Jeff May stated that before another agreement is signed, the City should obtain a second price.
Council Member Jim Rippy motioned to accept the City Audit Report for April 30, 2018. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested that the City receive proposals for Engineering Services for the Community Development Assistance Program Grant Funds. Bechtel explained that the City has applied for the grant, but it has not been formally approved. The State has granted the City permission to accept proposals for engineering and to negotiate on the price. The project will replace over 24,000 linear feet or approximately 15 miles of water lines at a cost of $6 million. The City has about 97 miles of water lines total. The project will replace six, eight, and ten-inch water lines. The City is planning to replace the two and four-inch lines in-house.
Council Member Jim Rippy motioned to grant permission for the City to receive proposals for Engineering Services for the Community Development Assistance Program Grant Funds. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested that the City receive proposals for Engineering Services for the 2019 and 2020 Water Mains. Bechtel explained that these services are for the IEPA Loan Applications. It takes about a year to go through the application and environmental processes. The first IEPA Loan would cover about $2 million in water line replacement and the second IEPA Loan is $1.9 million. The water lines will be replaced in the next two years unless problems occur. Any work paid by IEPA Loans must be contracted out. Council Member Jeff May reported that will cost $382,000 per mile to replace the water lines. Bechtel stated that once the water lines are replaced then sewer line replacement and roadwork will begin.
Council Member Mike Young motioned to grant permission for the City to receive proposals for Engineering Services for the 2019 and 2020 Water Mains. Seconded by Council Member Jeff May. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested that the City receive proposals for Engineering Services for the Replacement of Inlet Pipes at the Sewer Treatment Plant. Bechtel reported that Visu-Sewer surveyed the inlet pipes at the plant. There were some pipes in such poor condition, that they were unable to clean and video them for fear that the 24-inch pipes may collapse. Because of the location and condition of the pipes, she stated that it is best to replace the pipes and put in new lines.
Council Member Jeff May motioned to grant permission for the City to receive proposals for Engineering Services for the Replacement of Inlet Pipes at the Sewer Treatment Plant. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
City Attorney:
No items were presented.
Mayor:
Mayor John Lewis presented for the advice and consent of the City Council to appoint Chief of Police Trent Page and Fire Chief Kevin Sargent to the 911 Board and the Minority Affairs and Human Relations Board.
Council Member Jim Rippy motioned to appoint Chief of Police Trent Page and Fire Chief Kevin Sargent to the 911 Board and the Minority Affairs and Human Relations Board. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
City Council:
Council Member Donte Moore asked if the CDAP Loans require that the work be contracted out. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel replied that both the CDAP Loans and IEPA Loans required that the work be contracted out.
Council Member Jim Rippy commented that he hopes that the City Park Lake situation is expedited. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that there is a new process to chemically dredge the lake. There is a great deal of chemical analysis needed, but it may be worth looking into since the cost is less than mechanical dredging. The benefit depends on the ratio of organic and inorganic material. The chemical process works for organic material, not inorganic material. Either dredging method is a short-term fix because what needs to be done is full scale drainage, dredging, and repair of the spillway.
Visitors/Citizens Requests/Addresses From The Audience:
No comments were heard.
Executive Session:
At 7:23 p.m., City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested an Executive Session under 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (5) – The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to go into Executive Session under 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (5) for the purchase or lease of real property. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
At 7:40 p.m., Mayor John Lewis reconvened the Regular City Council Meeting.
Roll call showed present: Council Member Jeff May, Council Member Donte Moore, Council Member Jim Rippy, Council Member Mike Young, and Mayor John Lewis.
Adjournment:
Council Member Mike Young motioned to adjourn. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:41 p.m.
http://www.mtvernon.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/October-01-2018-Regular-City-Council-Meeting-Minutes.pdf
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