North Egypt News

City of Mt. Vernon City Council met Aug. 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Mt. Vernon City Council held a Regular City Council Meeting on Monday, August 18, 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.

Mayor John Lewis called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Pastor Randy Steele with Southwest Christian Church 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 Journals for August 4, 2025 TIF Redevelopment Plan and Project for the Frontage Road TIF Public Hearing and August 4, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting were presented for approval.

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

VISITORS/CITIZENS REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE

Mr. Horton Petties was present and spoke about the south town community and issues that the community faces. He wants to see the community come together and work together to make it better.

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 $1,986,913.58. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

BIDS AND QUOTES

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented the Bid Results for the Purchase of a Street Sweeper. The City received one bid for the sweeper from Woody’s Municipal Supply for $365,228. There was budgeted $450,000 in the Home Rule Tax Fund. Staff recommendation is to accept this bid.

Council Member Donte Moore motioned to grant permission to Accept the Bid Results for the Purchase of a Street Sweeper from Woody’s Municipal Supply in the amount of $365,228. Seconded by Council Member Jay Tate. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

CITY MANAGER

City Manager Nathan McKenna requested permission to Seek Bids for a Backhoe for Public Utilities. This was a budgeted item for $185,000 to replace an older backhoe.

Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to grant permission to Seek Bids for a Backhoe for Public Utilities. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

City Manager Nathan McKenna requested permission to Seek Bids for a Skid Steer for the Public Works Department. This was a budgeted item from the Home Rule Tax Fund for $107,000.

Council Member Jay Tate motioned to grant permission to Seek Bids for a Skid Steer for Public Works. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

City Manager Nathan McKenna requested permission to Seek Bids for a Demolition Project. This is the second round of demolition this year. The City had $300,000 budgeted in the Engineering Department Budget. The previous round of demolitions was a bid price of $100,900. The properties are: 404 Liebengood, 705 S. 22nd Street, 700 S. 17th Street, 1021 Welkins, 1216 Jones, 1308 Perkins, 313 Opdyke, 1304-A S. 26th Street, 1007 S. 12th Street, and 1215 Cherry.

Council MemberJoe Gliosci motioned to grant permission to Seek Bids for a Demolition Project. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented for approval of a Subdivision Preliminary and Final Plat for Property Located at 13561 N. Two Mile Creek Lane. Petitioning Party: James Carpenter. The owner is dividing vacant farmland into three parcels and intends to sell two of them. This was recommended for approval 4-0 by Planning and Zoning.

Council Member Donte Moore motioned to grant approval of a Subdivision Preliminary and Final Plat for Property Located at 13561 N. Two Mile Creek Lane. Petitioning Party: James Carpenter. Seconded by Council Member Jay Tate. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

ORDINANCES/RESOLUTIONS/MOTIONS

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented an Ordinance Rezoning Property at 1204 S. 10th Street from B-2 Secondary Business to I-1 Light Industrial. Petitioning Party: Lay’s Mining Service. This site is across the street on 10th Street from their main building. They do not use it for any manufacturing. They are adding on to the main facility and need a place to store the equipment during this process. There will be no outside storage on this property. Planning and Zoning recommended approval 4-0.

Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to approve Ordinance #2025-21, an Ordinance Rezoning Property at 1204 S. 10th Street from B-2 Secondary Business to I-1 Light Industrial. Petitioning Party: Lay’s Mining Service. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented an Ordinance Rezoning Property at 1921 Broadway from B-2 Secondary Business to R-1 Low Density Residential. Petitioning Party: Dana Withers. Ms. Withers is trying to sell the property and believes it is more likely to sell as residential. It had previously been zoned residential before being used as a business. Planning and Zoning approved this 4-0.

Council Member Jay Tate motioned to approve Ordinance #2025-22, an Ordinance Rezoning Property at 1921 Broadway from B-2 Secondary Business to R-1 Low Density Residential. Petitioning Party: Dana Withers. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented for First Reading of an Ordinance Implementing a Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax and a Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax. This is to keep the 1% tax on groceries that will be eliminated on January 1, 2026 by the State if not approved. Previous estimates show this equates to $1.3 million in revenue for the City. The City has to have the approved Ordinance to the Department of Revenue by October 1st to avoid a lapse in the collection.

FIRST READING ONLY.

Council Member Mike Young asked how long this tax has been collected. City Manager McKenna stated that the State suspended it in July 2022 and reinstated it in June of 2023, and it has been collected since that date. He stated that this tax is not on prepared food, it is on food that is bought at the store and taken home and prepared. The tax has been in place since 1990. He stated that as of this date, the IML (Illinois Municipal League) has reported that 477 municipalities have reinstated this tax.

Council Member Donte Moore expressed that if we don’t collect this tax, it affects the general corporate account which is police, fire, public works, streets, and things of that nature.

Mayor Lewis stated that by the State taking away this tax, it doesn’t affect the State, only the municipalities.

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented for First Reading of an Ordinance Approving the Tax Increment Redevelopment Plan and Project for the Frontage Road TIF. This item and the next two are all necessary to finalize the Frontage Road TIF District on North 44th Street. Once approved, we will notify the County to lock in the base EAV on the properties in the area. This will move us one step closer to finalizing a deal with the hotel developer on the site west of McAlister’s. This Ordinance approves the development plan.

FIRST READING ONLY.

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented for First Reading of an Ordinance Designating the Frontage Road TIF. This Ordinance designates the boundaries of the TIF district which includes six parcels and the right-of-way.

FIRST READING ONLY.

City Council Member Moore asked about the total acreage. City Manager McKenna stated this area is approximately 22 acres.

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented for First Reading of an Ordinance Adopting Tax Increment Financing for the Frontage Road TIF. This Ordinance locks in the EAV on the properties.

FIRST READING ONLY.

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented for discussion regarding a Motion to Relocate the Indoor Rec Center within Lincoln Park. The City has reached a point where a decision on the location has to be determined. He stated he is working on draft agreements with FGM and Holland and they are being reviewed by attorneys. There will more than likely be some back and forth with both firms, however, this will allow City Manager McKenna to move forward with portions of work related to the project. The City will have to have the property subdivided and surveyed prior to the start of the schematic design portion of the design phase. The plan originally called for the Rec Center to be located in the north location on the southeast corner of 34th and Veterans. The second option according to the results of the market study and master plan was south of the Aquatic Zoo.

Council Member Donte Moore made a motion to Relocate the Indoor Rec Center within Lincoln Park. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Mayor Lewis then stated the floor was open for discussion and comments by the Council.

Mayor John Lewis stated no matter what the Council does this evening regarding location, the community wins, whether it is the north or south location. Mayor Lewis stated either location is great, however, after listening to the consultants for several months on how they arrived at their conclusions, he agrees with the consultants that the property to the north of the Aquatic Zoo is the best because of the location, visibility, and that would help drive attendance. Initially, the Foundation only wanted to donate the south location, but after much discussion, they agreed the best location would be north. The Foundation gave a letter of commitment for either location because they want this done. Mayor Lewis expressed that his vote will be for the north location, however the City will win no matter what.

Council Member Joe Gliosci stated he thinks that the south location is best. Even though the consultants agreed that the north location was best, he believes that the north location could be landlocked at some point. He stated that he believes that the visibility point is overrated.

Council Member Donte Moore stated that he has been in favor of the south location since the beginning of the discussions. One reason is because of the elevation issues in the north location and the fact that the south location is 10 acres with an additional 8 to 9 acres to do a lot of different things. He did want to reiterate that either way, we all win here. He believes that the south location is the better location for any future development.

Council Member Mike Young said that in the feasibility study, there was not one difference in the responses on location.

Council Member Jay Tate stated that he feels that any time an organization gets an opportunity to have a corner lot, that’s where they should go. He stated that he feels visibility is very important. He said this is really about the future and the children and what we can do to build the population. He believes it’s wrong to go against the opinion of professionals. He stated he believes in the north location, it will give more access in and out.

Council Member Donte Moore stated that this is going to be the new thing in Southern Illinois and that people will come. The Council has the same exact mission and that is to build the new Rec Center, and we will get there regardless.

Mayor Lewis stated if this concludes the discussion, the Motion can be put to a vote, and it would need to be amended to declare either the north or south location.

Council Member Donte Moore moved to amend the motion to read Relocate the Rec Center to the South of the Aquatic Zoo in Lincoln Park. Council Member Joe Gliosci seconded the motion. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, and Young. Nay: Tate and Lewis.

MAYOR

None.

CITY COUNCIL

None.

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: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:37 p.m.

https://www.mtvernon.com/media/gymbghoa/08182025-regular-council-meeting.pdf