North Egypt News

City of Mt. Vernon City Council met March 3.

Here is the agenda provided by the council:

The Mt. Vernon City Council held a Regular City Council Meeting on Monday, March 3, 2025 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 Ron Lash with the Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church led the Invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

ROLL CALL

The 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 February 18, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting was presented for approval.

Council Member Joe Gliosci 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

None.

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 $614,756.15. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.

BIDS AND QUOTES

Assistant City Manager Nathan McKenna presented Bid Results for the Demolition of 1911 Broadway. This property is a high visibility location on Broadway and had become a problem for neighboring businesses due to homeless people squatting in the house. We received two bids on the demolition and recommend awarding the work to the lowest bidder, Kenneth Hails Excavating with a bid amount of $18,900.00.

Council Member Donte Moore motioned to grant permission to accept the Bid Results for the Demolition of 1911 Broadway to Kenneth Hails Excavating in the amount of $18,900.00. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.

CITY MANAGER

Assistant City Manager Nathan McKenna requested permission to Waive Bidding for Valve Installation on a 16-inch Transmission Water Main. The City is looking to create some redundancy in the water supply and adding these valves would allow the capability to divert water into our system through a 10” main if there ever is a leak on the 16” main transmission line. Currently if there is a break on the line between the RLCD storage tanks to 148 there is no way to isolate the break without shutting off water supply to the whole system. Midwest Petroleum and Excavating, Inc. is the contractor adding the second transmission line from Rend Lake Conservancy District to Mt. Vernon. They have provided a quote for the three valves and would be able to complete the work during the first week of July.

Council Member Ray Botch motioned to grant permission to Waive Bidding for Valve Installation on a 16-inch Transmission Water Main. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.

Assistant City Manager Nathan McKenna requested permission to Seek Quotes for Fire Stations Alerting System. This is a budgeted expenditure to improve the alerting system in all three fire stations. The City has budgeted $105,000 for this upgrade.

Council Member Donte Moore motioned to grant permission to Seek Quotes for Fire Stations Alerting System. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.

ORDINANCES/RESOLUTIONS/MOTIONS

Assistant City Manager Nathan McKenna presented an Ordinance Amending the City’s Revised Code Related to Hotel Liquor Regulations. When Drury Inn added a restaurant, they changed their liquor license from a Hotel Patron License to Hotel License. The Patron license allowed them to offer free drinks during their “Kickback Hours.” They never stopped the Kickback Hours and continued to offer the complimentary drinks. State regulation does allow for hotels with a liquor license to offer complimentary drinks as part of their reservation. This ordinance will allow the holders of the Hotel License the ability to offer the complimentary drinks as part of the reservation. Drury Inn and DoubleTree are the only two hotels that hold the license. There are no other hotels that have a liquor license. This ordinance brings the City Ordinance into conformity with State regulations.

FIRST READING ONLY

Assistant City Manager Nathan McKenna presented a Resolution Appointing Nathan McKenna as Acting City Manager for the City of Mt. Vernon. This action would provide some liability protection for the next three months while City Manager Bechtel is on vacation prior to retirement. This would be Assistant City Manager McKenna’s position until his contract begins on June 1, 2025.

Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to approve a Resolution Appointing Nathan McKenna as Acting City Manager for the City of Mt. Vernon. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis. Resolution #2025-07.

Assistant City Manager Nathan McKenna presented a Resolution Renewing the Line of Credit with Banterra Bank to Provide Overdraft Protection with Regard to City of Mt. Vernon Banking Services. This is something the City does every year since banking with Banterra Bank for the City’s banking services. This provides the City with a $6 million dollar line of credit if needed for the year.

Council Member Ray Botch motioned to approve a Resolution Renewing the Line of Credit with Banterra Bank to Provide Overdraft Protection with Regard to City of Mt. Vernon Banking Services. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Moore, Young, and Lewis. Abstain: Gliosci. Resolution #2025-08.

Assistant City Manager Nathan McKenna presented a Resolution Approving a Loan Application with the IEPA for Improvements to the Municipal Water and Sewer Systems. This Resolution authorizes staff to apply to the IEPA loan program to continue the upgrades to the water system. The loan amount is $4,050,000 and the water main replacements are located all over the city. They range from 6” mains to 10” mains on Broadway, Crownview, Central Ave., Waterworks Rd., Linnview Dr., White Ave., E. Harrison St., Casey Ave., Castleton Ave., S. 15th St., Industrial Dr., Denton Rd., S. 21st St., Logan St., Cherry St., and College St.

Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve a Resolution Approving a Loan Application with the IEPA for Improvements to the Municipal Water and Sewer Systems. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis. Resolution #2025-09.

MAYOR

None.

CITY COUNCIL

Council Member Donte Moore wanted to wish a Happy 82nd Birthday to Council Member Ray Botch.

VISITORS/CITIZENS REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE

None.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

At 7:14 p.m., Mayor John Lewis 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: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.

At 7:29 p.m., Mayor John Lewis reconvened the Regular City Council Meeting. Roll call showed present: Council Member Ray Botch, Council Member Joe Gliosci, Council Member Donte Moore, Council Member Mike Young, and Mayor John Lewis.

ADJOURNMENT

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

The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

https://www.mtvernon.com/media/2jpaatx3/03032025-regular-city-council-meeting.pdf