North Egypt News

City of Mt. Vernon City Council met Dec. 2.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Mt. Vernon City Council held a Regular City Council Meeting on Monday, December 2, 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.

Pastor Brian Fuller with the First Baptist Church of Woodlawn led the Invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

ROLL CALL

The roll call showed present: Council Member Joe Gliosci, Council Member Donte Moore and Mayor John Lewis. Absent: Council Member Ray Botch and Council Member Mike Young.

PRESENTATION OF JOURNALS

The Journal for November 18, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting was presented for approval.

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

VISITORS/CITIZENS REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE

None.

APPROVAL OF CONSOLIDATED VOUCHERS FOR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

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

Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable in the amount of $3,509,918.24. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, and Lewis. Absent: Botch and Young.

BIDS AND QUOTES None.

CITY MANAGER

City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested permission to Seek Bids for the Construction of Traffic Signals at South 34th Street and Veterans Memorial Drive. The engineering is complete, and this is ready to go out for bids. City Manager Bechtel stated that the cost is expected to be a little less than $400,000.00.

Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to grant permission to Seek Bids for the Construction of Traffic Signals at South 34th Street and Veterans Memorial Drive. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, and Lewis. Absent: Botch and Young.

City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented a Street Closure Request for 9th Street between Harrison Street and Main Street for the Jefferson County CEO Program Event at the Granada on December 6, 2024 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Requesting Party: Jefferson County CEO.

Liam Asbery from the Jefferson County CEO Program was present to answer questions about the event. This CEO class is putting on an event at the Granada which is the Titanic’s Grand Gala. They are expecting approximately 230 persons at the event. This event is to represent having a full meal on the Titanic, along with entertainment during the evening. Mr. Asbery explained the CEO program is a way for Jefferson County high school students to start their own business, work on a team to create an event, meet local business mentors, visit local businesses and learn entrepreneurial skills. He explained that this is the foundation of starting your own business and learning about business. He stated this is one of the best opportunities for students.

Council Member Donte Moore motioned to grant permission for a Street Closure Request for 9th Street between Harrison Street and Main Street for the Jefferson County CEO Program Event at the Granada on December 6, 2024 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Requesting Party: Jefferson County CEO. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, and Lewis. Absent: Botch and Young.

ORDINANCES/RESOLUTIONS/MOTIONS

City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented for First Reading of an Ordinance Concerning the Levy and Collection of Taxes for Fiscal Year 2025. There is again no increase in the levy amount. The total levy amount is $2,880,100 and is the same as last year. The levy for the 2020 bond authorized by Ordinance 2020-31 is abated in this Ordinance, so the City is not levying any money for the payment of the bonds that is coming out of the sales tax. The levies for the current tax year (only) authorized by Ordinance 2020-31 are hereby abated so that no tax levies shall be extended for the current tax year. Taxes authorized to be levied pursuant to Ordinance 2020-31 shall be extended in future years as provided by said Ordinance unless otherwise abated.

Council Member Joe Gliosci made the motion to suspend the rules and take action on the Ordinance, an Ordinance Concerning the Levy and Collection of Taxes for Fiscal Year 2025. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, and Lewis. Absent: Botch and Young.

Mayor Lewis stated that this levy has been frozen for the past 5 years. The City has not increased the levy for 5 years.

Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve Ordinance #2024-41, an Ordinance Concerning the Levy and Collection of Taxes for Fiscal Year 2025. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, and Lewis. Absent: Botch and Young.

City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented a Resolution to Place a Referendum to Eliminate the City Treasurer Position on the Ballot. This Referendum would be placed on the April ballot with the question of eliminating the City Treasurer position which has been vacant for 8 years. The City has a Finance Department with a lineation of duties, cross training, and audits, and the City feels like this position is no longer needed. The Referendum on the ballot would read, “Should the City of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, eliminate the City Treasurer position”?

Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to approve a Resolution to Place a Referendum to Eliminate the City Treasurer Position on the Ballot. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, and Lewis. Absent: Botch and Young.

City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented a Resolution to Place a Referendum to Eliminate the City Clerk Position on the Ballot. This Referendum would place on the April ballot the question of eliminating the City Clerk position as an elected position and make it a staff position. The Deputy City Clerk currently has all the authority to perform the duties of City Clerk in the absence of the City Clerk. This has become a position where it makes sense to have this be a staff position because of the increase in duties. The Referendum on the ballot would read, “Should the City of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, convert the City Clerk position from an elected role to a municipal employee”?

Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve a Resolution to Place a Referendum to Eliminate the City Clerk Position on the Ballot. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas:

Gliosci, Moore, and Lewis. Absent: Botch and Young.

City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel wanted to restate that this Referendum does not eliminate current Deputy City Clerk Becky Barbour’s position. If this Referendum would pass, she would then become the City Clerk and she would continue in that role.

MAYOR

Mayor John Lewis presented for the advice and consent of the City Council the Appointment of Rosa Roma to the Tourism Advisory Board.

Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to accept the Appointment of Rosa Roma to the Tourism Advisory Board. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, and Lewis. Absent: Botch and Young.

Mayor John Lewis also wanted to invite the community to come downtown in the evening to see the downtown park that is in the process of being lit up. It is not finished but will be completed shortly.

CITY COUNCIL

City Council Member Joe Gliosci wanted to invite community members to buy the remaining tickets for the Jefferson County CEO event to be held on December 6.

VISITORS/CITIZENS REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE

None.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

At 7:25 p.m., City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested an Executive Session under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5) - The Purchase or Lease of Real Property for the Use of the City.

Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to go into Executive Session under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5) - The Purchase or Lease of Real Property for the Use of the City. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, and Lewis. Absent: Botch and Young.

At 7:50 p.m., Mayor John Lewis reconvened the Regular City Council Meeting. Roll call showed present: Council Member Joe Gliosci, Council Member Donte Moore, Mayor John Lewis. Absent: Council Member Ray Botch and Council Member Mike Young.

ADJOURNMENT

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

The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

https://www.mtvernon.com/media/gx0hykes/12022024-regular-city-council-meeting.pdf