Mt. Vernon City Council met June 1.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
The Mt. Vernon City Council met for Public Hearings to hear comments regarding six applications for the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Grant Program at 6:30 p.m. 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.
Present: Council Member Ray Botch, Council Member Joe Gliosci, Council Member Donte Moore, Council Member Mike Young, Mayor John Lewis.
Others present in-person: City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel, Assistant City Manager Nathan McKenna, City Clerk Mary Jo Pemberton, Travis Morse-Mt. Vernon Sentinel, Assistant Police Chief Robert Brands, Finance Director Merle Hollmann, Steve Tate, JCDC Director Tony Iriti, and Jeff Higgs of Ideal Recovery.
Others present via-teleconference: Tourism Director Angela Schrum, Barry Jackson – M. E. Jackson Jewelry Company, Jeremy Sneed – Trackside Bar & Grill, and Jose Jesus Jacinto – El Rancherito Mexican Restaurant.
PUBLIC HEARING
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel stated that the Public Hearings are being held for the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Grant Program. This program was established by the State of Illinois to benefit non-essential businesses that have been negatively impacted because of COVID-19 and the Governor’s orders to stay closed, are losing business, and have employees that have been laid off. The State of Illinois set aside $20 million for downstate businesses. Municipalities apply for the grants, hold public hearings, approve support Resolutions for the businesses, and submit the applications to the State of Illinois. The grant funds cannot be used for expansions, for capital improvements, or for capital purchases. The funds are strictly for the businesses to start up again for wages, working fund capital, mortgage, rent, and utilities for sixty-days. The grant funds are not required to be paid back by the businesses.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel asked if the City Council or public had any discussion or comment about Community Development or housing needs in the City of Mt. Vernon. No comments were heard.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that the City is applying for the grant in the name of the City of Mt. Vernon to the State of Illinois for their approval. She stressed that this hearing and the application for the grant does not guarantee the businesses the amount of funds requested or that they will be approved. The State of Illinois will review each application and make their determination based on the merit of the businesses’ information in the application.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel identified each business and how the funds will be used. She asked for comments after presenting each business application. No comments were heard.
Mayor John Lewis asked if there were any questions or comments. No comments were heard from the audience or from the City Council.
ADJOURNMENT
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to adjourn the Public Hearing. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
The Public Hearing was adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
http://www.mtvernon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/06012020-Public-Hearing-on-Downstate-Grant.pdf
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