North Egypt News

City of Mt. Vernon City Council met Aug. 4.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Public Hearing

City of Mt. Vernon, Illinois

TIF Redevelopment Plan and Project for the

Frontage Road TIF

A Public Meeting was held at 7:00 p.m. Those minutes are available separately. The regular City Council Meeting started at 7:15 p.m.

Regular City Council Meeting

The Mt. Vernon City Council held a Regular City Council Meeting on Monday, August 4, 2025, at 7:15 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 called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.

Pastor Tim Brinson with the Antioch International Assembly led the Invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

ROLL CALL

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

PRESENTATION OF JOURNALS

The Journal for July 21, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting was presented for approval.

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

VISITORS/CITIZENS REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE

Mayor John Lewis then asked the citizens who want to speak to come forward when they are called. This is an opportunity for the Council to listen to the concerns of the community.

The first speaker was Tineka Doggan. She wanted to speak in regard to the concerns of the community regarding things that Mayor Lewis has said in social media and publicly on the news. She stated she was disappointed in the what the Mayor said on the news regarding the recent shooting and how he described the youth and also regarding asking those present to share any information they had recorded on their phones. She said it is unacceptable and is asking for his resignation.

Mayor Lewis addressed the concerns. He stated that he is disheartened that this is happening, and the focus should be on the individuals’ lives who were lost. He stated he did not make the post regarding asking children for footage of a shooting from their cell phones, he was sharing a post from the Mt. Vernon Police Department asking for cooperation from the community. Regarding the segment on the news, Mayor Lewis said he spoke to the reporter who apologized and admitted it was out of context, and the television station has removed it from public view. Mayor Lewis stated that most people in the community know that the comment was referring to criminals and was not racially motivated.

The next speaker was Tanja Wilborn. Ms. Wilborn also had concerns regarding statements made by Mayor Lewis. She also quoted information given in the news segment and other information she found on social media. She had concerns that nothing is done in the south town community. She also asked that the Mayor step down from his position.

Mayor Lewis also addressed Ms. Wilborn’s concerns. He again stated that he did not make the comments made in the news segment. Mayor Lewis stated that the City responded to requests made by citizens by putting cameras in the area of south town. The City has just donated a building for a youth center in south town. The City has spent a lot of money on water lines, sewer lines, repaving the streets, and the parks.

Speaking next was Jessica Hicks. Ms. Hicks also had concerns about the Mayor’s statements made on the news. She said his statements targeted the Black community and insulted south town as a whole. She stated she started an online petition demanding Mayor Lewis’ resignation and is asking for the Mayor’s resignation so that the community can move forward and heal together.

Mayor Lewis again stressed that the reporter took the information out of context. If there was truth in what the reporter said, the station would have left up the post and they would have posted the clip of him making the statements.

Mr. Horton Petties was next to speak. He spoke about the south town community having a lack of things they need. They need more and better housing. He stated he is not blaming anyone in particular, it is just the system.

J. Nelson Wood was next to speak. He wanted to express gratitude from Michael Alexander and the Lincoln Park Foundation for the work the Council is doing. Mr. Alexander wanted to extend best wishes and wants to see this move forward.

APPROVAL OF CONSOLIDATED VOUCHERS FOR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

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

Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable in the amount of $1,215,790.72. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

BIDS AND QUOTES

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented the bid results for the Manhole Relining Project 2025. The City received two bids for this project, to reline 68 manholes. There had been budgeted $275,000 for this project. Culy Contracting from Winchester, Indiana was the low bidder with a bid of $305,218. Staff recommendation is to accept the bid from Culy Contracting. The $30,218.00 difference between budget and bid will be made up from the working fund balance in the sewer budget.

Council Member Donte Moore motioned to grant permission to accept the Bid Results for the Manhole Relining Project 2025 from Culy Contracting in the amount of $305,218. Seconded by Council Member Jay Tate. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

CITY MANAGER

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented a Street Closure Request for Perkins Avenue Between 10th Street and 12th Street on August 9, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for a Backpack Giveaway and Car Show. Requesting Party: Papa Knock’s.

Council Member Mike Young motioned to grant permission for a Street Closure Request for Perkins Avenue Between 10th Street and 12th Street on August 9, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for a Backpack Giveaway and Car Show. Requesting Party: Papa Knock’s. Seconded by Council Member Jay Tate. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented a Street Closure Request for North Street Between 10th Street and 12th Street on October 11, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for a Special Needs Prom. Requesting Party: Central Christian Church.

Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to grant permission for a Street Closure Request for Perkins Avenue Between 10th Street and 12th Street on October 11, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for a Special Needs Prom. Requesting Party: Central Christian Church. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

ORDINANCES/RESOLUTIONS/MOTIONS

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented an Ordinance Annexing Vacant Land Adjacent to 1700 Veterans Memorial Drive, Pin 07-31-451-002 to the City of Mt. Vernon. City Manager McKenna stated the City had not received any calls regarding the annexation, other than an inquiry from Bethel Grade School.

Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve Ordinance #2025-20, an Ordinance Annexing Vacant Land Adjacent to 1700 Veterans Memorial Drive, Pin 07-31-451-002 to the City of Mt. Vernon. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented a Resolution Approving a Franchise Agreement with Spectrum Mid-America, LLC aka Charter Communications. This is a Franchise Agreement that is renewed every five years. There are no changes in the language of the contract.

Council Member Mike Young motioned to approve a Resolution Approving a Franchise Agreement with Spectrum Mid-America, LLC aka Charter Communications. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis. #2025-30

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented a Resolution Approving a Real Estate Purchase Agreement for Property on East Harlan Road, PIN 10-01-401-003. This is to purchase the 69-acre parcel south of the baseball fields on Harlan Road for future development. The purchase price is 1.4 million. This would be paid out of funds in the Quality-of-Life fund.

Council Member Donte Moore stated that he is opposed to this purchase as there are no plans at this time for this property. With the construction on the overpass at the interstate, the City does not know what the future is with income from taxes. He stated that is why he will be voting no on the purchase of this property.

Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to approve a Resolution Approving a Real Estate Purchase Agreement for Property on East Harlan Road, PIN 10-01-401-003. Seconded by Council Member Jay Tate. Yeas: Gliosci, Tate, Young, and Lewis. Nay: Moore. #2025-31.

MAYOR

None.

CITY COUNCIL

Council Member Donte Moore wanted to thank all of the organizations that have been helping with the backpack giveaways. Also, he wanted to give a shout out to District 80 on what they are doing to provide lunches. He stated they are close to giving away almost 70,000 boxes of food to the community.

VISITORS/CITIZENS REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE

Mr. Dustin Richardson spoke to the council regarding an organization he started to help the younger generation of men. He is looking for guidance and volunteers. His goal is to create a brotherhood where men can help others learn a skill all while supporting the community. He has a Facebook page called Many Men and there is more information there.

Mayor Lewis and the Council gave him Mr. Richardson advice on organizations he can reach out to and how to get the word out and thanked him for the information.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

At 8:15 p.m., Mayor John Lewis requested an Executive Session under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21) – Review of Executive Session Minutes.

Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to go into Executive Session under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21) – Review of Executive Session Minutes. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

At 8:35 Mayor John Lewis reconvened the Regular City Council Meeting. Roll call showed present: Council Member Joe Gliosci, Council Member Donte Moore, Council Member Jay Tate, Council Member Mike Young, and Mayor John Lewis.

APPROVAL OF EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES

Council Member Donte Moore made a motion to approve the releasing of the May 5, 2022, April 3, 2023, April 17, 2023, August 21, 2023, September 3, 2024, December 2, 2024, December 16, 2024, February 3, 2025, February 18, 2025, and March 3, 2025 Executive Session Minutes. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

ADJOURNMENT

Council Member Jay Tate motioned to adjourn. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:39 p.m.

https://www.mtvernon.com/media/0j3g3g0h/08042025-regular-council-meeting.pdf