North Egypt News

City of Mt. Vernon City Council met March 4.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Mt. Vernon City Council held a Regular City Council Meeting on Monday, March 4, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at City Hall, 1100 Main Street, Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/MtVernonIL.

Mayor John Lewis opened the meeting.

Pastor Ron Lash with the Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church led 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, and Mayor John Lewis. Absent: Council Member Mike Young. 

PRESENTATION OF JOURNALS 

The Journal from February 20, 2024 Regular Council Meeting was presented for approval.

Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve the Journal as presented. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, and Lewis. Absent: Young. 

VISITORS/CITIZENS REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE 

Audience member Christina Reyes addressed the Council regarding concerns with older kids harassing younger kids, using foul language, and causing trouble at Veterans Memorial Park. They are also throwing rocks in the lake and at the ducks. Mayor Lewis commented that the City is aware of some of the destruction that the juveniles are doing at the park. He stated the City can

have Police start extra patrols in that area. He also stated that she and other parents should call the Police when there is a problem. Police Chief Trent Page also spoke about the problem and stated that the number of out-of-control juveniles has intensified in recent years and not only in the park. Mayor Lewis also added that the City is planning to add additional cameras in that area.

The Mayor and Council thanked Ms. Reyes for her comments.

APPROVAL OF CONSOLIDATED VOUCHERS FOR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE 

The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable were presented to the Council for approval.

Council Member Ray Botch motioned to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable in the amount of $1,282,375.58. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, and Lewis. Absent: Young. 

BIDS AND QUOTES 

None.

CITY MANAGER 

City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented a Street Closure Request for North Street between 11th Street and 12th Street on April 27, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for Central Christian Church Serve Day. Requesting Party: Central Christian Church. Staff recommendation is to approve the request.

Council Member Ray Botch motioned to grant permission for a Street Closure for North Street between 11th Street and 12th Street on April 27, 2024 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for Central Christian Church Serve Day. Requesting Party: Central Christian Church. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, and Lewis. Absent: Young. 

City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented Bid Results for the South 44th Street Phase II Frontage Road Construction and Improvement of Ilberry Road and Heritage Avenue. There were four bidders for this project. Guinzy Construction, Inc. was the low bidder. Staff recommendation is to award this construction contract to Guinzy Construction in the amount of $3,769,714.27. Construction is to begin in the Spring.

Baxmeyer	$3,975,147.77
E. T. Simonds	$4,607,599.29
Guinzy Construction, Inc.	$3,769,714.27
Kamadulski Excavating	$4,443,144.80

Council Member Donte Moore motioned to grant permission to Accept the Bid Results for the South 44th Street Phase II Frontage Road Construction and Improvement of Ilberry Road and Heritage Avenue from Guinzy Construction, Inc. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, and Lewis. Absent: Young.

CITY ATTORNEY 

City Attorney David Leggans presented for First Reading of an Ordinance Procuring CDBG Funds for the Sanitary Sewer Relining Project. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained this is required by the IEPA for the grant for the sewer relining project. It is about procedures for competitive bidding, contract provisions, and administration of the project. The City is in compliance and the staff recommendation is to approve the procurement policies required for using CDBG funds.

Council Member Donte Moore made the motion to suspend the rules and take action on the Ordinance, an Ordinance Procuring CDBG Funds for the Sanitary Sewer Relining Project. Seconded by Council Member Ray Botch. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, and Lewis. Absent: Young. 

Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve Ordinance #2024-07, an Ordinance Procuring CDBG Funds for the Sanitary Sewer Relining Project. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, and Lewis. Absent: Young. 

City Attorney David Leggans presented for First Reading of an Ordinance Authorizing the Ceding of Private Activity Bonding Authority. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that the City does this each year to reallocate the volume cap to Southern Illinois Economic Development Authority (SIEDA). This year the amount of the volume cap is $1,785,500.00. There is no project at this time and transferring this allocation will allow SIEDA to hold this allocation until the end of the yearin the event that a project comes up before December 31. If it is not used for a project, then the allocation will go back to the Illinois Finance Authority. The City receives an allocation each year based on its population.

Council Member Ray Botch made the motion to suspend the rules and take action on the Ordinance, an Ordinance Authorizing the Ceding of Private Activity Bonding Authority. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, and Lewis. Absent: Young. 

Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve Ordinance #2024-08, an Ordinance Authorizing the Ceding of Private Activity Bonding Authority. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, and Lewis. Absent: Young. 

City Attorney David Leggans presented a Resolution to Preserve Revenues from Food Tax. Mayor John Lewis stated that last year the Governor suspended the 1% food tax which is distributed to each community. The State of Illinois agreed to make up the revenue loss to the communities through other funds. This year, there is an effort to eliminate the 1% food tax. The City of Mt. Vernon would stand to lose $1.2 million if this tax is eliminated. The City is not asking the Governor to put this tax back on the citizens; however, the City is asking the State to make up the revenue loss like they did when the tax was suspended last year. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel added this tax goes directly into the General Fund for police, fire, streets, parks, fleet maintenance and other services. This would be a reduction of revenue in that fund. City Council Member Donte Moore asked if other municipalities were also passing Resolutions regarding this tax. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel stated that the Illinois Municipal League has sent draft resolutions to every community that they represent so that the communities can show solidarity. When speaking with our Representative, Mayor Lewis stated that he was told that Governor Pritzker is not budging on this issue. The communities are not asking for the tax to be put back on the citizens, just asking for the State to do what was done last year.

Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to approve the Resolution to Preserve Revenues from Food Tax. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, and Lewis. Absent: Young. 

MAYOR 

None.

CITY COUNCIL 

Council Member Ray Botch stated that there was an attendance of over 30 participants at the Citizens Police Academy. He wanted to extend congratulations to Police Chief Trent Page and Assistant Police Chief Robert Brands on the success of the program. Council Member Botch would encourage citizens to take advantage of this program in the future. Police Chief Trent Page stated that there were 38 in attendance. He stated this was the first time they had the academy in one 8-hour day. He thought it was successful and they had a few things they took away to make improvements going forward.

VISITORS/CITIZENS REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE 

None.

EXECUTIVE SESSION 

None.

ADJOURNMENT 

Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to adjourn. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, and Lewis. Absent: Young. 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

 https://www.mtvernon.com/media/dfsig5al/03042024-regular-city-council-meeting.pdf