City of Mt. Vernon City Council met Nov. 4.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
The Mt. Vernon City Council held a Regular City Council Meeting on Monday, November 4, 2019 at the Rolland W. Lewis Community Building, Veterans Park, 800 South 27th Street, Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
Mayor John Lewis called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Council Member Mike Young gave the Invocation.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
ROLL CALL
Roll call showed present: Council Member Ray Botch, Council Member Joe Gliosci, Council Member Mike Young, and Mayor John Lewis. Absent: Council Member Donte Moore.
PRESENTATION OF JOURNALS
The Journal for the October 21, 2019 Regular City Council Meeting was presented for approval.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to approve the Journal as presented. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Young, and Lewis. Absent: Moore.
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 Mike Young motioned to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable in the amount of $535,339.63. Seconded by Council Member Ray Botch. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Young, and Lewis. Absent: Moore.
BIDS AND QUOTES
No bids and quotes were presented.
CITY MANAGER
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented the 2018-2019 Annual Audit Report for approval. Finance Director Merle Hollmann distributed two auditor letters stating the Krehbiel & Associates Auditors have found no material weaknesses in the internal control. Council Member Ray Botch asked if the auditors had any recommendations. Hollmann replied that the auditors recommended that the Police and Fire Pension investment companies publish the transactions monthly. No other significant recommendations were given.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to approve the 2018-2019 Audit Report from Krehbiel & Associates Inc. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Young, and Lewis. Absent: Moore.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested permission to bid the Clearing of Water and Sewer Easements. Bechtel explained that the City has many water lines in remote areas in unimproved grounds. In the analysis of the 2019 water crisis, it was determined that if the easements were cleared the water leak might have been easier to discover. Public Works Director Matt Fauss is preparing a map of the areas and the bid documents. The plan is to have the easements systematically improved. Bechtel is hoping that the work is completed by next Spring.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to grant permission to bid the Clearing of Water and Sewer Easements. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Young, and Lewis. Absent: Moore.
CITY ATTORNEY
City Attorney David Leggans presented for the Public Hearing and the Second Reading of an Ordinance Vacating an Alley in Block 2 of Storm’s Survey for the new Post Office Location. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that this vacates the alley which the new Post Office will be built over.
Council Member Mike Young motioned to adopt Ordinance #2019-45, an Ordinance Vacating an Alley in Block 2 of Storm’s Survey for the new Post Office Location. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Young, and Lewis. Absent: Moore.
City Attorney David Leggans presented for First Reading an Ordinance Declaring Surplus Municipal Property. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that the property to be sold are two (2) vehicles.
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Council Member Ray Botch motioned to suspend the rules to vote on an Ordinance. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Young, and Lewis. Absent: Moore.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to adopt Ordinance #2019-46, an Ordinance Declaring Surplus Municipal Property. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Young, and Lewis. Absent: Moore.
City Attorney David Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution to Approve Authorized Representatives to Sign Water Pollution Control Loan Program Forms and Documents. This Resolution authorizes John Lewis, Mayor or Mary Ellen Bechtel, City Manager to sign all loan application forms and documents. Bechtel explained that this is in preparation of the application of the loan for Sewer Lift Station 14 and the Force Main. A meeting with Heneghan and Associates, P.C will be scheduled this week to obtain an update on the IEPA Loans.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to approve the Resolution for Authorized Representatives to Sign Water Pollution Control Loan Program Forms and Documents. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Young, and Lewis. Absent: Moore.
City Attorney David Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution to Approve the Amendment to the Design Agreement for Lift Station No. 14 with Heneghan and Associates, P.C. This Resolution is required in order to make the design engineering project expenses reimbursable through the IEPA Loan Program.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to approve the Resolution to Approve the Amendment to the Design Agreement for Lift Station No. 14 with Heneghan and Associates, P.C. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Young, and Lewis. Absent: Moore.
City Attorney David Leggans presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution to Approve an Easement Agreement with Christian Social Services of Illinois d/b/a Caritas Family Solutions. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that this related to the new Post Office project. The Easement will provide access to businesses impacted by the vacation of the alleyway and the construction of the new Post Office. In return the City has agreed to do two curb cuts and striping of Caritas’ parking lot.
Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to approve the Resolution to Approve an Easement Agreement with Christian Social Services of Illinois d/b/a Caritas Family Solutions. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Young, and Lewis. Absent: Moore.
MAYOR
Mayor John Lewis presented the October 2019 City Department Activity Summary.
“The Mt. Vernon Police Department handled 1,891 calls which equals to about 61 calls each and every day. 107 people were arrested during the month. There were 101 criminal charges, 38 drug charges, and 22 warrants served. They also conducted 347 traffic stops resulting in 119 citations, of which 3 were for the use of cellphones. 8 people were arrested for D.U.I., responded to 110 traffic crashes, answered 88 alarms, and had 114 community contacts. The Detective Division was assigned 48 new cases, cleared 3 by arrest, referred 55 cases to the States Attorney, and had 1 crime scene call out. The Tactical Unit was deployed 3 times and our K9 team had 34 deployments. There was a total of 7,553 non-emergency calls received and handled during the month of October and 1,990 emergency calls.
The Public Utilities Department replaced 540 linear feet of water main, responded to 13 water breaks, 24 services repaired or replaced, processed 246 work orders, processed 114 JULIE locates, had 104 red letter disconnects, 53 water samples collected, 2 hydrants replaced, 2 hydrants repaired, 5 valves repaired or replaced, and 25 site restorations completed. On the sewer side, they responded to 6 service calls resulting in 6 backed up sewer mains, 2 sewer mains repaired, 7 routine sanitary and storm mains cleaned and/or televised resulting in 3,360 linear feet of sanitary sewer main cleaned and 436 linear feet of sanitary sewer televised. 4 manholes raised, 1 new tap inspection, 60 feet of new sewer main installed, 4 site restorations completed, and spent 8 hours hydro digging.
Engineering and Inspection Department conducted 55 10A inspections. Out of the 55 inspections, 32 properties received occupancy certificates. There were 11 nuisance postings and approximately 3 were abated by the City. There were 2 properties condemned and 12 building permits issued totaling $1,161,330.”
CITY COUNCIL
Council Member Ray Botch asked if all of the surveillance cameras have been installed. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel replied that 26th Street and the RWL Community Center cameras are active. Mayor John Lewis stated that the cameras have very impressive resolution.
Council Member Mike Young reported that former Fire Chief Eddie Henry’s funeral procession was a great send off for a longtime friend. He recognized the Police and Fire Departments for their assistance.
VISITORS/CITIZENS REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE
Horton Petties asked about the status of the house on Sixth Street that has been vacant and rundown for decades. He requested that something be done to remove this eyesore. Assistant City Manager Nathan McKenna reported that the house has been condemned and going through the court process.
Petties asked for an update on Patricia Bach’s project on Perkins. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel replied that she might be applying to the Downtown TIF Board for project funding.
Petties asked for an update on new sidewalks by Dawson Park. Betched replied that the sidewalk program is completed for this year.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
No Executive Session was held.
ADJOURNMENT
Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to adjourn. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Young, and Lewis. Absent: Moore.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:24 p.m.
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