City of Mt. Vernon City Council met June 17.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
Mayor John Lewis called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Pastor Don Bigham of Bakersville Baptist Church gave the invocation.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
ROLL CALL
Roll call showed present: Council Member Ray Botch, Council Member Donte Moore, Council Member Jim Rippy, Council Member Mike Young, and Mayor John Lewis.
PRESENTATION OF JOURNALS
The Journals for the May 30, 2019 Special City Council Meeting and the June 03, 2019 Regular City Council Meetings were presented for approval.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve the Journals as presented. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, 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 Jim Rippy asked when the installation of the new water meters will end. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel stated that most of the meters are installed with the exception of a few including Continental Tire. No trend in water loss or usage has been determined at this time. Rippy asked about the Park Lake Dredging Project. Bechtel replied that dredging will continue for two more weeks, then barrier for silt will be installed. This will take a month to six weeks to complete. Council Member Donte Moore asked if the final expense numbers have been determined regarding the water crisis in May. Bechtel stated that the numbers should be available by the next City Council Meeting.
Council Member Mike Young motioned to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable in the amount of $1,244,348.66. Seconded by Council Member Ray Botch. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
BIDS AND QUOTES
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented the bids received on June 5, 2019 for the 2019 Street Maintenance Program financed by Motor Fuel Tax Funds. Two bidders supplied bids on various groups. The low bids were:
Group # Bidder Low Bid
1. Jax Asphalt $58,140.80
2. Marathon Pet. $17,270.00
3. Jax Asphalt $6,144.00
4. Jax Asphalt $192,919.83
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to award the bids as recommended by City Staff for the 2019 Street Maintenance Program financed by Motor Fuel Tax Funds. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented the bids received for the Davidson Avenue/Potomac Road Patch Project. Six bidders supplied bids for this project. The bids submitted were:
Name Bid
Rollie Excavating, Woodlawn, IL $102,942.00
T&I Contracting, Centralia, IL $139,463.96
Kinney, Raymond, IL $161,208.00
Guinzy Const., Ashley, IL $204,021.08
Stulz Excavating, Alton, IL ET $129,760.85
Simonds, Carbondale, IL $184,601.90
Bechtel recommended the acceptance of the low bid from Rollie Excavating in the amount of $102,942.00 for the Davidson Avenue/Potomac Road Patch Project. She reported that $100,000.00 was budgeted for this project. Council Member Donte Moore asked if the project included the repair of Potomac by the new Holiday Inn. Bechtel stated that area is being watched and if Motor Fuel Tax comes in ahead of projection, work may begin next Spring. Council Member Ray Botch asked if that project could be added on to the Davidson Avenue/Potomac Road Patch Project. Bechtel stated it cannot be included due to budget restrictions. Botch requested that an estimate be prepared for the area on Potomac by the new Holiday Inn.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to accept the low bid from Rollie Excavating in the amount of $102,942.00 for the Davidson Avenue/Potomac Road Patch Project. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
CITY MANAGER
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented for Council's Approval the Year-End Budget Adjustments. The budget adjustments are recommended by the City auditors, Krehbiel & Associates. Except in the Sanitation Fund and the Aquatic Zoo Fund, all funds were taken from revenue or other expenditure accounts that were over budget. The shortfall in the Sanitation Fund and Aquatic Zoo Fund will be taken from the Working Fund Balance in each fund. Finance Director Merle Hollmann explained that this is an annual request because by Illinois State Statues say that the City cannot exceed the line item budget amount. Council Member Jim Rippy asked why the budget cannot show over and under items instead of adjusting the line item amounts. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that the adjustments pertain to the 2018-2019 Budget to balance the sub-accounts. Rippy asked how Department Heads are held accountable for their budgets. Hollmann explained Departments Heads are accountable to the City Manager and any purchase order needs an explanation why it exceeds their budget. Mayor John Lewis stated that the adjustments are minuscule compared to the entire budget.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to approve the Year-End Budget Adjustments. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
CITY ATTORNEY
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for first reading an Ordinance Authorizing the sale of Municipal Property. The property to be sold includes eight lots and one vehicle. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that the eight lots are vacant and empty. Assistant City Manager Nathan McKenna stated that currently the City has over 100 surplus lots for sale.
Property # Legal Description
549 Lot 15 in Block 2 in John Gibson's Second Addition to the City of Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois commonly known as 1020 S. 6th Street, Mt. Vernon, Illinois and having PIN 07-32-181-006.
547 Lot 74 in Casey and Mannen's Orchard Park Addition to the City of Mt. Vernon, situated in the County of Jefferson and State of Illinois having PIN 07-31-261-018. Lot 75 in Casey and Mannen's Orchard Park Addition to the City of Mt. Vernon, situated in the County of Jefferson and State of Illinois. And also, a strip of land 16 feet in width lying south of and touching, abutting and adjoining Lot 75, which strip was dedicated to the City of Mt. Vernon for alley purposes and later vacated. Having PIN 07-31-261-019; and includes structures having addresses of 1810 Perkins, 1812 Perkins, and 831 S. 18th Street, Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
555 Lot 129 in S.H. Watson's Addition to the City of Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois, commonly known as 217 Castleton, Mt. Vernon, Illinois and having PIN 07-32-212 001.
573 Lot 611 in the City Park Addition to the City of Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois, commonly known as 903 S. 25th Street, PIN 07-31-302-024
556 Lot 7 in V.T. Pace View Bailey Addition to the City of Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois commonly known as 1007 Pace, Mt. Vernon, Illinois and having PIN 07-29-157-002.
574 The West 95 Feet of Lot 92 in Casey and Mannen's Orchard Park Addition to the City of Mt. Vernon, Illinois commonly known as 700 S. 19th Street, PIN 07-31-257-001
572 Lot 224 in the City Park Addition of the City of Mt. Vernon, Commonly known as 712 south 22nd Street
550 Lot 14 in George D. Williams Second Addition to the City of Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois; commonly known as 1613 S. 12th Street, Mt. Vernon, Illinois and having PIN: 07 31-483-015. 2015 Dodge #2C3CDXAT5FH902140
Council Member Donte Moore 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 approve Ordinance #2019-21, an Ordinance Authorizing the sale of Municipal Property. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for First Reading an Ordinance Vacating an Alley. The petitioners are Debra Martin and Heather Mick. The alley is described as “A portion of an unnamed alley as described by part of the Northeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of Section 31 in Township 2 South, Range 3 East of the Third Principal Meridian, more particularly described as beginning at the Southwest corner of Lot 8 in Charles U. Stull Subdivision to the City of Mt. Vernon; thence Westerly 15 feet to the Northeast corner of Lot 8; thence Southerly a distance of 47 feet to the point of beginning, situated in Jefferson County, Illinois" City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that across from Veteran's Park, an alley is located behind a house. The owners are maintaining the area and the City has no future need for the alley. First Reading was held.
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council's consideration a Resolution Requesting IDOT Approval for the Temporary Closure of IL 15 Westbound from Marlow Rd. (FAS 789) to Junction of IL 15 and Old Rt. 15 at the East Edge of Mt. Vernon for the purpose of "Salute to Freedom” Fireworks Display on July 4, 2019.
Council Member Jim Rippy motioned to approve the Resolution Requesting IDOT Approval for the Temporary Closure of IL 15 Westbound from Marlow Rd. (FAS 789) to Junction of IL 15 and Old Rt. 15 at the East Edge of Mt. Vernon for the purpose of "Salute to Freedom” Fireworks Display on July 4, 2019. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
Corporation Counsel Bill Howard presented for Council's consideration a Resolution Requesting a Permit from IDOT to Authorize the Construction of Water Service at 3111 Broadway Street. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that the lot of the former Marion Eye Center Building is being subdivided and the owners requested that four separate water meters be installed. In order to install the meters, the City will need to bore under State Highway 15.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to approve the Resolution Requesting a Permit from IDOT to Authorize the Construction of Water Service at 3111 Broadway Street. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
MAYOR
Mayor John Lewis publicly thanked the many businesses and individuals who assisted with last month's water crisis. Some of the organizations and businesses that helped were the Illinois Rural Water Association, Jefferson County Emergency Management, Round Table Design, Nelson Leak Detection Services, Marion Fire Department, Franklin County Emergency Management, Illinois State Police, Kash Helicopter Service, Continental Tire, Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Illinois Department of Public Health, SSM St. Mary's Good Samaritan Health, Crossroads Community Hospital, and Rend Lake Water Conservancy District.
CITY COUNCIL
Council Member Donte Moore recognized the professional service by Police Officer Sara Peas and Police Officer Travis Pendley for their work at the housing unit on Short Street during the recent fire and smoke situation.
Council Member Jim Rippy reported that a meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 19th to conduct a root cause analysis of the recent water crisis. He stated that he has never seen an occasion when the original opinion was the real root cause of the situation.
VISITORS/CITIZENS REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE
No comments were heard.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
No Executive Session was held.
ADJOURNMENT
Council Member Mike Young motioned to adjourn. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Rippy, Young, and Lewis.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:26 p.m.
http://www.mtvernon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/June-17-2019-Regular-City-Council-Meeting-Minutes.pdf
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