North Egypt News

City of Mt. Vernon City Council Public Hearing DCEO Grant Application met July 19.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

The Mt. Vernon City Council met for a Public Hearing to hear comments regarding the DCEO Grant Application at City Hall in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Mayor John Lewis called the Public Hearing to order at 6:30 p.m.

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/MtVernonIL/

Present: Council Member Ray Botch, Council Member Joe Gliosci, Council Member Donte Moore, and Mayor John Lewis. Absent: Council Member Mike Young.

Others present in-person: City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel, Assistant City Manager Nathan McKenna, City Engineer Brad Ruble, Deputy City Clerk Becky Barbour, Finance Director Steve Tate, Director of Mt. Vernon Convention & Visitors Bureau Angela Schrum, Police Chief Trent Page, Assistant Police Chief Robert Brands, and Lee Beckman of Milano & Grunloh.

PUBLIC HEARING

City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained this is a Public Hearing for a DCEO (Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity) Grant Application. Milano & Grunloh is writing the application for it. This is a competitive grant program. The City wants to apply and get in the cycle for this grant process, as you can apply only every other year if you have an approved program. City Manager Bechtel introduced Lee Beckman from Milano & Grunloh for more explanation of the grant application.

Mr. Beckman explained that City of Mt. Vernon is applying for a CDBG Public Infrastructure Improvement Project Grant Fund to serve the residents of the City of Mt. Vernon. This Grant is for sanitary sewer system improvements in selected block groups within the City. The City has a high concentration of low to moderate income families in the selected block groups and there is a health and safety threat to the residents in the City of Mt. Vernon because of an unsafe sewer system due to aging system components that are not functioning properly causing sewer backups, overflows, and numerous complaints from Citizens regarding odors. This CDBG Grant is funded by the federal government and administered by the State. The State allocates the funds to various local government units through a competitive application process. For the public infrastructure components, the applications are due August 3, 2021. The City of Mt. Vernon is applying for a $550,000.00. grant from the CDBG fund. The project includes sanitary sewer system improvements, which consists of 16,673 feet of 15”, 12”, 10”, and 8” CIPP sanitary sewer relining and 16,673 feet of 15”, 12”, 10” and 8” sanitary sewer cleaning and televising and all related costs for the proposed sanitary sewer system improvements. According to the LMISD 2011-2015 – 71.24% of the residents, which is 3,765 low to moderate persons in the selected block groups in the City of Mt. Vernon are considered low to moderate income. The amount of CDBG funds proposed to be used for activities that will benefit low to moderate income persons is $391,820.00. There will be no displacement of occupied households or businesses as a result of the proposed activities. It was stated the current sanitary system serving residents in the City of Mt. Vernon is unsafe. It is planned the public infrastructure grant funds will lead to the construction of sanitary sewer system improvements, which in turn, will significantly alleviate health and safety threats as mentioned. For the project, the grant is for $550,000.00 and the City is proposing to put in $121,904.00. The public infrastructure program component is a competitive application program which has estimated $18 Million Dollars allocated in its total project. The grant ceiling for public infrastructure grant is $550,000.00. Eligible public infrastructure activities are construction of large-scale projects for new or expanding water or sewer systems. In relation, the eligible activities for public facilities construction grants includes construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or installation of public facilities and improvements. Of the requested $550,000.00, 71.24% or $391,820.00 will benefit low to moderate income individuals. There will be no displacement of occupied households or businesses as a result of the proposed activities. This is a 2-part public hearing. This is the end of the first part. Are there any questions in regards to the first part?

Council Member Donte Moore asked about the City’s match of $121,904.00. City Manager Bechtel explained the total project cost is $671,904.00, which is just construction, and grant is for $550,000.00. Council Member Moore asked about the low to moderate income residential areas. Mr. Beckman shared a map showing the areas that are designated for the sewer system improvements.

The applications are submitted by August 3, and it is estimated that the City will know if they received the grant by December 2021. Once the grants are announced, there are environmental clearances that would be done. City Manager Bechtel stated this would be completed in the next fiscal year.

2nd part of Public Hearing

The 2nd portion of the hearing is to discuss the City’s needs. Mr. Beckman read the following: Improvements, including major upgrades to the City’s sewer collection system, equipment purchases, including possible new backhoes for the City, major storm drainage improvements including new culverts and ditch maintenance, housing rehabilitations projects of single-family owner-occupied homes in the City, and sidewalk improvements. He explained that these are not necessarily going to be funded, but community needs are to be discussed as part of the public hearing. City Manager Bechtel explained that Council can add to this list, which is the purpose of the hearing. She stated that these items covered the City’s needs.

Council Member Moore asked if the Public requested use of these funds for other needs, is it possible to use funds in other areas. Mr. Beckman explained that the grant funds must be used for the project submitted and in those areas. Cannot go outside of this project area when grant funds are received.

No other questions.

ADJOURNMENT

Mayor John Lewis adjourned the Public Hearing at 6:45 p.m.

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