City of Mt. Vernon City Council met May 6.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
The Mt. Vernon City Council met for a Regular City Council Meeting in the City Council Chamber at City Hall, 1100 Main Street, Mt. Vernon, Illinois via teleconference due to the Covid-19 quarantine.
Mayor John Lewis called the meeting to order. 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 Donte Moore, Council Member Mike Young, and Mayor John Lewis.
PRESENTATION OF JOURNALS
The Journal for the March 16, 2020 Regular City Council Meeting was presented for approval.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to approve the Journal as presented. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
VISITORS/CITIZENS REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE
Council Member Ray Botch stated that fifty years ago tonight, April 6, 1970, he attended his first City Council Meeting as the newly appointed Mt. Vernon City Manager. It was presided over by Mayor Rolland Lewis, City Councilmen Paul Partridge, Gale Martin, Russell Laur, and Kenny Martin, City Clerk Paul Hayes, and City Attorney Bill Howard who is still the City Attorney. He thanked them for giving him the opportunity to begin a 35-year career as a City Manager. He is Mt. Vernon's longest serving City Manager, 1970 to 1984.
APPROVAL OF CONSOLIDATED VOUCHERS FOR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable were presented to Council for approval.
Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable in the amount of $385,341.43. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
BIDS AND QUOTES
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented the bid results for the 22nd & Lamar Concrete Ditch Project – Phase 2. Three bidders supplied bids for the project. The low bidder was Rollie Excavating & Cement Finishing Inc. from Woodlawn, Illinois with a bid of $28,890.00. The engineer’s cost estimate was $33,831.00.
Rollie Excavating $28,890.00
T & L Contracting $30,645.00
Evrard Strang $42,768.09
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to award the bid for the 22nd & Lamar Concrete Ditch Project – Phase 2 to Rollie Excavating & Cement Finishing Inc. from Woodlawn, Illinois with a bid of $28,890.00. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented the bid results for the 2019-2020 Manhole Lining Project. Bechtel explained that this is part of the City’s sewer collection improvement project. Two bidders supplied bids for the project. The low bidder was Culy Contracting, Winchester, IN for $35,610.00. The engineer’s cost estimate was $32,681.00.
Visu-Sewer St. Louis, MO $89,941.00
Culy Contracting Winchester, IN $35,610.00
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to award the bid for the 2019-2020 Manhole Lining Project to Culy Contracting, Winchester, IN for $35,610.00. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
CITY MANAGER
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented for Council’s approval the Consent of Assignment for a Miller Lake Lease Agreement for Ronald Howard and Brenda Ogborn. This Assignment assigns the interest of Ronald Howard and Sharon Howard to Ronald Howard and Brenda Ogborn.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to approve the Consent of Assignment for a Miller Lake Lease Agreement for Ronald Howard and Brenda Ogborn. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented for Council’s approval a Change Order from Bevis Construction for the Aquatic Zoo Drain Relocation Project. The revisions include:
• Remove and replace concrete deck at east side of leisure pool for a new drain location.
• Remove and replace concrete deck at west side of competition pool for drain.
• Extend concrete deck at fence posts to east side of competition pool.
• Add crushed stone base to raise the deck elevation at area east of equipment building.
Assistant City Manager Nathan McKenna explained that the plans for the drain were over electrical conduit and in order to move forward, a large section of concrete needs to be removed. The revisions will cost $10,940.95 bringing the total project estimate to $78,221.00.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to approve the Change Order from Bevis Construction for the Aquatic Zoo Drain Relocation Project. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
CITY ATTORNEY
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented for Second Reading, an Ordinance Amending Article 21, Section 21-124 “Definitions and Illustrations” and Article 21, Section 21-300 “Schedule of District Regulations” of the Revised Code of Ordinances regarding Cannabis. Bechtel explained that this amendment allows for a cultivation center, craft grower, processing organization, infuser organization, dispensing organization, or transporting organization as a Conditional Use in Industrial or Agricultural Zones. Cannabis Business Establishment does not include cannabis café or cannabis lounge or any business having on-site consumption of any cannabis product with the zoning jurisdiction of the City of Mt. Vernon. The organization must be 1,500 feet distance between each use and 350 feet distance from any church, daycare or pre-school facility, primary or secondary school, or residential care home or property zoned residential or used for residential purposes.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to adopt Ordinance #2020-11, an Ordinance Amending Article 21, Section 21-124 “Definitions and Illustrations” and Article 21, Section 21-300 “Schedule of District Regulations” of the Revised Code of Ordinances regarding Cannabis. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution Reclassifying Certain Public Utilities and Sanitation Accounts for Accounting Purposes. Finance Director Merle Hollmann explained that each year the City writes off water, sewer, and garbage accounts that are over 3 years past due. The accounts are written off but remain collectible if the customers try to sign up for utility services again. The accounts are turned into the State Comptroller’s Office and the amounts are deducted from any funds coming from the State such as income state return, lottery winnings, and wages. Hollmann stated the amount of bad debt is small compared to the amount of accounts billed each year. The amount to be written off is $36,806.48.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to approve the Resolution Reclassifying Certain Public Utilities and Sanitation Accounts for Accounting Purposes. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented for Council’s consideration a Resolution to Defer Hotel/Motel Taxes until June 2020. This defers the tax payments for the months of March and April until the payment date for the May Return in June 2020. Bechtel stressed that the tax is still owed, only deferring the payment of the tax.
Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to approve the Resolution to Defer Hotel/Motel Taxes until June 2020. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
MAYOR
Mayor John Lewis read a statement regarding Council Member Ray Botch.
“On March 17, 1970, Councilman Ray Botch received a call from Mayor Rolland W. Lewis advising that he had been chosen as the new Mt. Vernon City Manager. His starting salary was to be $14,000 dollars. 50 years ago, today, April 6, 1970, Councilman Ray Botch attended his 1st City Council Meeting. He has given his “all” both here and in Westmont, Illinois. In appreciation of Ray Botch and his efforts to redevelop the downtown area, Westmont honored him by naming a building, the Raymond P. Botch Jr., Westmont Centre. I can assure you that he must have contributed much for that action. He also created a scholarship to support students pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. He loved Mt. Vernon so much, he came back when he retired. We are lucky to have someone with his background and expertise on this Council, serving the citizens of Mt. Vernon. He continues to give back. He has donated money for the Citizens Police Academy, a new K-9 for the Police Department, and put a brand new sign on our Community Building. On behalf of everyone here and in this City, we thank you.”
Mayor John Lewis reported on the March 2020 statistics from the various City Departments.
The Mt. Vernon Police Department handled 1,383 calls which equals to about 45 calls each and every day. 68 people were arrested during the month. There were 73 criminal charges, 17 drug charges, and 25 warrants served. They also conducted 168 traffic stops resulting in 71 citations. 7 people were arrested for D.U.I., responded to 80 traffic crashes, answered 86 alarms and had 67 community contacts. The Detective Division was assigned 53 new cases, referred 19 cases to the States Attorney, and cleared 2 cases by arrest. The Tactical Unit was deployed 1 time, our K9 team had 12 deployments, and there were 4 crime scene callouts.
The Fire Department responded to 296 alarms and calls. The City Hall station answered 143 alarms, the Airport station answered 15 alarms, and the 42nd Street station answered 138 alarms. Of the responses, 224 were recorded as EMS related, 18 of the responses were recorded as fire related, and 6 of the responses were recorded as hazard related. They responded to 2 structure fires, 14 rubbish fires, 6 motor vehicle crashes with injuries, 12 false alarms, and was requested and received 1 mutual aid and gave mutual aid on 2 calls. The Fire Inspection Dept. performed 3 business site inspections, 6 consultations and 3 plan reviews. The Fire Prevention Division performed 3 public education events, 2 educational in services, and participated in 1 blood drive. The Fire Department reminds everyone to be very cautious during these times and maintain the recommendations of the CDC, and if you are in need of emergency medical care, call 911.
Our Public Utilities Department responded to 1 water break, repaired or replaced 40 services, processed 160 work orders, processed 110 JULIE locates, 23 water samples were collected, completed 10 site restorations, replaced 1 fire hydrant, flushed 15 hydrants, conducted 4 water quality tests, and had 89 red letter disconnects. On the sewer side, they responded to 20 service calls resulting in 19 backed up sewer mains, 8 routine sanitary and storm mains cleaned and or televised resulting in 8,300 linear feet of sanitary sewer main cleaned and 200 linear feet of sanitary sewer televised, 3 manholes were replaced, 6 mains repaired, repaired 2 laterals and treated 25 mains.
Engineering and Inspection Department. They conducted 15 10A Inspections, out of 15 inspections, 12 properties received occupancy certificates, and there have been 3 nuisance postings. There were 4 properties condemned and there were 6 building permits totaling $566,000.
CITY COUNCIL
Council Member Mike Young stated that he is personally grateful for Council Member Ray Botch for his input and service on the City Council and the Public Utilities Committee.
Council Member Joe Gliosci congratulated Council Member Ray Botch on his fifty years of service.
Council Member Donte Moore stated Council Member Ray Botch’s love for the City of Mt. Vernon is very appreciated.
Council Member Ray Botch commended City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel and Finance Director Merle Hollman for their hard work in preparing the budget. They prepared the budget in an easy to understand format.
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 Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
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