Mt. Vernon City Council met May 6.
Here is the miuntes provided by the council:
Mayor John Lewis called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Pastor Harold Quick of the West Salem Trinity United Methodist 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 Journals for the April 5, 2019 City Council Workshop, the April 15, 2019 Public Budget Hearing, and the April 15, 2019 Regular City Council Meeting were presented for approval.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve the Journals as presented. Seconded by Council Member Jeff May. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
VISITORS/CITIZENS REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE
Don Breeze spoke on the parking situation in the 400 Block of South 24th Street. Breeze stated that he owns four homes in this block and parking is not allowed on both sides of the street. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel will have the Public Works Department look into the parking situation.
APPROVAL OF CONSOLIDATED VOUCHERS FOR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable were presented to Council for approval.
Council Member Jeff May motioned to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable in the amount of $778,135.20. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
BIDS AND QUOTES
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented the bid results for the Demolition of the former Water Treatment Plant. The Water Treatment Plant is located at 2000 Waterworks Road. Four bids were received:
KRB Excavation, Trenton, IL $79,425.00
J. K. Trotter & Sons, Mt. Vernon, IL $51,183.00
Stutz Excavating Inc., Alton, IL $34,829.00
S. Shafer Excavating, Pontoon Beach, IL $53,400.00
City Engineer Brad Ruble reviewed the bids and recommended awarding the project to the lowest responsive responsible bidder, Stutz Excavating, Inc in the amount of $34,829.00. The bid was lower than the estimate because the asbestos testing results showed lower amounts of asbestos than thought when the estimate was done.
Council Member Jim Rippy motioned to award the bid to Stutz Excavating, Inc in the amount of $34,829.00. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
CITY ATTORNEY – OLD BUSINESS
City Attorney David Leggans presented for Second Reading an Ordinance approving an Employment Agreement between the City of Mt. Vernon and Mary Ellen Bechtel. Council Member Jeff May stated that Bechtel has proven that she has tremendous leadership skills. Council Member Jim Rippy stated that Bechtel is bright and hardworking, but the employment agreement process is foreign to him and feels that it is unprofessional. Council Member Donte Moore spoke on Bechtel’s many accomplishments and stated that the City of Mt. Vernon has the best person possible to fill the City Manager’s position.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to adopt Ordinance #2019-14, an Ordinance approving an Employment Agreement between the City of Mt. Vernon and Mary Ellen Bechtel. Seconded by Council Member Jeff May. Yeas: May, Moore, Young, and Lewis. Rippy: No.
SWEARING IN OF NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS
City Clerk Mary Jo Pemberton performed the swearing in of the newly elected officials including Council Member Raymond P. Botch, Jr. and Council Member Donte Moore.
Jeff May commented on his time as Councilman and stated that he was proud of working with the City Officials and staff. Council Member Mike Young, Council Member Donte Moore, Council Member Jim Rippy, and Mayor John Lewis spoke on May’s accomplishments and thanked him for his service.
Following the swearing in, the newly elected took their positions at the Council table and regular City Council continued.
CITY MANAGER
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested permission to issue a RFQ (Request for Quotes) for the Engineering for an IEPA Application and Engineering for the Sewer Treatment Plant Inlet Lines, the Wagner Force Main Replacement, Engineering on Midtown Sewer Line Replacements, and the Midtown CIPP (Cured in Place Pipe). Bechtel reported that this is a big sewer project. Engineering needs to be completed so that the IEPA Application can be submitted for the State By-Pass Funding. Estimated costs are:
Sewer Treatment Plant Inlet Lines $1.5 million
Wagner Force Main Replacement $250,000
Midtown Sewer Line Replacements $110,000
Midtown CIPP $590,000
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to grant permission to issue an RFQ (Request for Quotes) for the Engineering for an IEPA Application and Engineering for the Sewer Treatment Plant Inlet Lines, the Wagner Force Main Replacement, Engineering on Midtown Sewer Line Replacements, and the Midtown CIPP (Cured in Place Pipe). Seconded by Council Member Ray Botch. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested permission to accept bids for the Lakeshore Drive (CIPP) (Cured in Place Pipe) Project. Bechtel explained that a sewer collapse occurred in November. The collapsed area is repaired, but the sewer line is in desperate need of lining. This will be a “Pay-as- you-go” project estimated at $132,000.
Council Member Jim Rippy motioned to grant permission to accept bids for the Lakeshore Drive (CIPP) (Cured in Place Pipe) Project. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested permission to accept bids for the 2019-2020 Sewer Investigation Project. The area is in the northeast section of Mt. Vernon and the sewer lines follow the water lines that will be replaced in this area. This will be a “Pay-as-you-go” project estimated at $215,000.
Council Member Mike Young motioned to grant permission to accept bids for the 2019-2020 Sewer Investigation Project. Seconded by Council Member Jim Rippy. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested permission to accept bids for engineering for the South 44th Street Extension. She stated that this is in anticipation of the State of Illinois having a funded capital plan. The entire project is estimated at $5.4 million for the frontage road that begins at the end of South 44th Street to Heritage Road, to build Mateer Road, and to improve Ilbery and heritage Roads. The City’s share of the project is the engineering costs. Adjacent property owners have given their support for this project.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to grant permission to accept bids for engineering for the South 44th Street Extension. Seconded by Council Member Ray Botch. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested permission to accept bids for Engineering for South 26th Street. Bechtel explained that this is a local narrow road with deep ditches. Improvements will be from Forest Avenue to Veterans’ Memorial Drive. The estimated cost is $900,000.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to grant permission to accept bids for Engineering for South 26th Street. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested permission to accept bids to purchase a Lawn Mower. Bechtel stated that the mower will be used by the City Lot and Code Enforcement Crew.
Council Member Jim Rippy motioned to grant permission to accept bids to purchase a Lawn Mower. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested permission to accept bids for Engineering for the Re- Design of the Veteran’s Memorial Park Bridge. Bechtel explained that this is the one-lane bridge south of Veterans’ Park Lake. The estimated cost is $175,000.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to grant permission to accept bids for Engineering for the Re-Design of the Veteran’s Memorial Park Bridge. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis
CITY ATTORNEY – NEW BUSINESS
City Attorney David Leggans presented an Ordinance Approving a Tax Increment Agreement between the City of Mt. Vernon and Quinn Law and Mediation, LLC. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that Downtown Development TIFF Advisory Board unanimously approved this request. The grant is in an amount of up to $43,000.00 of eligible expenses. The grant will pay $10,750.00 each year for four years. The address of the property is 1000 Main Street. The project is for 1). interior renovations of the first and second floor, sprinkler repair, installation of a new historically appropriate entry doors, and transom windows; 2). Restore the existing transom windows; and 3). Recover awnings and the cleaning of exterior masonry. Bechtel stated that there may not be any change to the estimated tax increase lift, but the building is located on a heavily traveled corner in the downtown area.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to adopt Ordinance # 2019-15, an Ordinance Approving a Tax Increment Agreement between the City of Mt. Vernon and Quinn Law and Mediation, LLC. Seconded by Council Member Jim Rippy. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
City Attorney David Leggans presented for First Reading, an Ordinance Authorizing the City of Mt. Vernon to Borrow Funds from the IEPA Public Water Supply Loan Program. The projects include:
Replace 26,625 linear feet of leaking Cast Iron Water Main $ 2,590,000 L175590
Replace 27,335 linear feet of leaking Cast Iron Water Main and replace the L&N 150,000-gallon Elevated Water Tank with a new 500,000-gallon Elevated Water Tank $ 4,770,000 L175591
Replace 27,000 linear feet of leaking Cast Iron Water Main $ 2,590,000 L175592
Replace 25,345 linear feet of leaking Cast Iron Water Main $ 2,590,000 L175593
Replace 26,170 linear feet of leaking Cast Iron Water Main $ 2,590,000 L175594
Total Estimated Cost $15,130,000
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that this Ordinance will not obligate the City to borrow the money, but it will move the City along further with IEPA process. Before the loan is signed, the City will know how much loan forgiveness will be granted. The principal and interest payments will be payable semi-annually, and the loan will mature in 20 years, which is within the period of useful life of the Project. The loan is to be repaid from revenues of the system received from the 2% increases in water rates enacted by Ordinance 2016-27 and revenues received from the 1% increase in the Mt. Vernon Home Rule Municipal Retailers and Service Occupation Tax enacted by Ordinance 2017-42.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to suspend the rules to vote on an Ordinance. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to adopt Ordinance #2019-16, an Ordinance Authorizing the City of Mt. Vernon to Borrow Funds from the IEPA Public Water Supply Loan Program. Seconded by Council Member Ray Botch. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
City Attorney David Leggans presented a Resolution Relating to the Participation by Elected Officials in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF). This Resolution finds that the following elected positions qualify for membership in IMRF: City Clerk, City Treasurer, Mayor, and City Council.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve the Resolution Relating to the Participation by Elected Officials in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF). Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
MAYOR
Mayor John Lewis presented for the advice and consent of the Council the re-appointments of Shelia Jolly-Scrivner, Mike Carbonaro, Bill Pixley, Phyllis Bruce, and Joyce Secrest and the appointment of Jennifer Carmona to the Tourism Advisory Board.
Council Member Jim Rippy motioned to approve the re-appointments of Shelia Jolly-Scrivner, Mike Carbonaro, Bill Pixley, Phyllis Bruce, and Joyce Secrest and the appointment of Jennifer Carmona to the Tourism Advisory Board. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Mayor John Lewis presented for the advice and consent of the Council the re-appointment of Roger Tedrick and the appointment of Monica Williams to the Tax Increment Finance Board.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to approve the re-appointment of Roger Tedrick and the appointment of Monica Williams to the Tax Increment Finance Board. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Mayor John Lewis presented for the advice and consent of the Council the appointment of Bud Davis to the Park Board.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to approve the appointment of Bud Davis to the Park Board. Seconded by Council Member Jim Rippy. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Mayor John Lewis presented for the advice and consent of the Council the re-appointment of Robert White to the Fire and Police Commission.
Council Member Mike Young motioned to approve the re-appointment of Robert White to the Fire and Police Commission. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Mayor John Lewis presented for the advice and consent of the Council the re-appointment of Mary Ellen Bechtel to the Fire Pension Board.
Council Member Jim Rippy motioned to approve the re-appointment of Mary Ellen Bechtel to the Fire Pension Board. Seconded by Council Member Ray Botch. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Mayor John Lewis presented for the advice and consent of the Council the re-appointment of Chris Mendenall to the Police Pension Board.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to approve the re-appointment of Chris Mendenall to the Police Pension Board. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Mayor John Lewis presented for the advice and consent of the Council the re-appointments of Mike Beard, Tom Upchurch, and Mary Ellen Bechtel to the Minority Affairs and Human Relations Committee.
Council Member Mike Young motioned to approve the re-appointments of Mike Beard, Tom Upchurch, and Mary Ellen Bechtel to the Minority Affairs and Human Relations Committee. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Mayor John Lewis presented for the advice and consent of the Council the re-appointment of Marty Cox to the Airport Authority Board.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to approve the re-appointment of Marty Cox to the Airport Authority Board. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Mayor John Lewis presented for the advice and consent of the Council the appointment of Brittney Noward to the City Housing Authority Board to fill the vacancy left by Shirilyn Holt to finish her term through April 30, 2022, and the appointment of Tineka Doggan to the City Housing Authority Board.
Council Member Mike Young motioned to approve the appointment of Brittney Noward to the City Housing Authority Board to fill the vacancy left by Shirilyn Holt to finish her term through April 30, 2022 and the appointment of Tineka Doggan to the City Housing Authority Board. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Mayor John Lewis read a statement about the United States Post Office. He announced that the proposed location of the new Post Office is the South-West corner of 10th Street and Jordan Avenue on the current municipal parking lot. This keeps the facility in the downtown area as requested by the USPO.
Mayor John Lewis presented the April 2019 City Department Activity Summary.
The Mt. Vernon Police Department handled 2,201 calls which equals to about 73 calls each and every day. 133 people were arrested during the month. There were 157 criminal charges and 21 warrants served. They also conducted 650 traffic stops, resulting in 329 citations, of which 131 were for use of cellphones. 12 people were arrested for D.U.I., they had 51 drug charges, responded to 92 traffic crashes, answered 106 alarms and had 124 community contacts. The Detective Division was assigned 72 new cases, referred 20 cases to the States Attorney and had 4 crime scene callouts. The Tactical Unit was not deployed and our K9 team had 22 deployments. There was a total of 7,240 non- emergency calls received and handled during the month of April and 1,858 emergency calls.
The Fire Department responded to 258 alarms and calls. The City Hall Station answered 136 alarms, the Airport Station answered 10 alarms, and the 42nd Street Station answered 112 alarms. Of the responses, 194 were recorded as EMS related, 6 of the responses were recorded as fire related, and 3 of the responses were recorded as hazard related. They responded to 1 structure fire, 2 rubbish fires, 2 vehicle fires, 5 motor vehicle accidents, 19 false alarms, and was requested and gave mutual aid on 1 call. The Fire Inspection Dept. performed 4 business site inspections, 4 consultations and 1 Plan Review. The Fire Prevention Division performed 3 public education events, 2 car seat installations, 1 fire prevention presentation, and 2 CPR Training Classes for the Telecommunicators at the dispatch center.
The Public Utilities Department responded to 10 water breaks, repaired or replaced 14 services, processed 221 work orders, processed 198 JULIE locates, removed 7 idle meter accounts, and had 79 red letter disconnects. The South 15th Water Main Project started on April 22nd. On the sewer side, they responded to 14 service calls resulting in 7 backed up sewer mains, 1 sewer main repaired, 1 manhole repaired, 21 routine sanitary and storm mains cleaned. Smoke testing started on April 29th. Engineering and Inspection Departments conducted 97 10A inspections, 67 of those properties received occupancy certificates, and 42 nuisance postings. There were 8 properties condemned, 5 properties were demolished and there were 24 building permits totaling $1,703,800.
CITY COUNCIL
Council Member Ray Botch stated that Mayor Rolland W. Lewis hired him as the Mt. Vernon City Manager on March 17, 1970. After 14 years of serving as the City Manager, he moved to Westmont, Illinois as their City Manager. Former Mayor Jim Addington, former Fire Chief Frank Trout, and Code Enforcement Officer Steve Watson of Westmont were in the audience in honor of Botch’s swearing- in as City Councilman.
Council Member Jim Rippy asked what “clock-out/clock-in” meant. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that was part of the union arbitration settlement which provides ten minutes added to their “clock-out/clock-in time” anytime that the employees are called in for unscheduled overtime. The minimum two-hour call-out still applies.
Council Member Jim Rippy recommended to the City Council that City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel and Assistant City Manager Nathan McKenna be allowed to attend the one-week training program at the Center of Creative Leadership. He stated that it is the greatest program that he ever attended. Mayor John Lewis stated that he will poll the Council on this matter.
VISITORS/CITIZENS REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE
No comments were heard.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
No Executive Session was held.
ADJOURNMENT
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to adjourn. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:56 p.m.
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