North Egypt News

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

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Mt. Vernon City Council held a Regular City Council Meeting on Tuesday, September 2, 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 Matthew Dickerson with West Salem Trinity 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 Journal for August 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 Donte Moore. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

VISITORS/CITIZENS REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE

Tanya Wilborn spoke to the Council regarding follow-up questions she had from the last time she was before the Council. She stated that on City’s website that the Dawson Park and Veterans Park project overlay was completed for a total of $84,582.31. However, Dawson Park is not asphalted, and project is not complete. Ms. Wilborn commented on how the selection of a council member was made after Council Member Ray Botch resigned. Ms. Wilborn also asked about the sewer and water line infrastructures on the south and east side of town and the grant that was received for those improvements. Ms. Wilborn stated it was implied that the street lights were replaced in response to requests on south side. She asked why a lot of those lights are not working on the south side?

City Manager Nathan McKenna said he could not explain why the Dawson Park and Veterans Park projects overlay is marked completed on the website, however, it is not completed, and Jax Asphalt has not been paid. The City is looking for quote from another contractor, as Jax did not follow through on the project. The performance bonds issue will have to be worked out legally. He will check into the information posted on the website.

Mr. Horton Petties was present and spoke about the south town community and issues that the community faces. The City needs to address how we can manage some of the problems in south town. He feels that there needs to be a meeting among leaders to solve problems.

Troy Rutledge was next to speak. He had questions about Section 8 housing in Mt. Vernon. He stated he was told that the City had denied a company interested in building Section 8 housing. Mayor Lewis said that is untrue. The City is talking with groups that are looking at Section 8 housing. The City has not turned any of them down.

Mr. Rutledge also had concerns about persons having block parties and stated there needs to be programs in place to govern those. Council Member Donte Moore stated we have an Ordinance in place for block parties and street closures, however some people don’t follow the procedure.

Mr. Rutledge’s other concern is that the City is tearing down houses and not selling the empty lots. He said he tried to buy one and was told he couldn’t purchase the lot next door to his house. He said a big ditch was put in there. Mayor Lewis stated that the City Manager could check on that for him if he would like to contact him about it. City Manager McKenna stated if a ditch was put in there, it was marked for storm water management by public works department.

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 $2,697,283.75. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

CITY MANAGER

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented a Street Closure Request for 9th Street between Broadway and Jordan Streets on September 20, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for Unity in the Community Event. Requesting Party: United Way.

Council Member Mike Young motioned to grant permission for a Street Closure Request for 9th Street between Broadway and Jordan Streets on September 20, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for Unity in the Community Event. Requesting Party: United Way. Seconded by Council Member Jay Tate. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

City Manager Nathan McKenna requested permission to Waive Bidding and Purchase 5 New Squad Cars. Council had previously waived bidding requirements and gave permission to purchase the squad cars through the state contract. The purchase orders were not received in time to make the purchases, however, the City has another option. Mike Shannon contacted Morrow Brothers Ford in Greenfield, IL, who held the state contract previously, to see if they had any squad cars to purchase. Morrow Brothers now has a nationwide government contract, and they have a large inventory of cars that are the same make, model, and specifications as the state contract squad cars. Their pricing is cheaper than the state price. State price was $47,577 per squad car and Morrow Brothers has them available for $45,788 per squad car. This would be a total savings of $8,945 for five squad cars.

Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to grant permission to Waive Bidding and Purchase 5 New Squad Cars. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

City Manager Nathan McKenna requested permission to Seek Bids for Richview Road Sewer Main Replacement. The City had originally intended to reline this section of the sewer main, however, after running a camera down the line that is not an option due to Clearwave Fiber running fiber through the main in multiple locations. The City anticipates a cost of approximately $300,000. Clearwave will be responsible for a large portion of the cost for damage repairs per the Franchise Agreement.

Council Member Donte Moore motioned to grant permission to Seek Bids for Richview Road Sewer Main Replacement. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

City Manager Nathan McKenna requested permission to Accept the Quote for Equipment for the 5 Squad Cars. This is for equipping the new squad cars with lights, caging, and additional equipment. The expense was included in the line-item budget for the new cars. The City received quotes from Ray O’Herron for $55,365, Utilitac Equipment for $68,512.13, and Datatronics for $61,802.45. Staff recommendation is to accept the quote from Ray O’Herron.

Council Member Donte Moore asked after cars are received, how long does it take to get them on the road. Chief Robert Brands stated four to six months.

Council Member Donte Moore motioned to grant permission to Accept the Quote for Equipment for the 5 Squad Cars from Ray O’Herron in the amount of $55,365. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

ORDINANCES/RESOLUTIONS/MOTIONS

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented for Second 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. If approved, the City will have this submitted to the Illinois Department of Revenue to avoid an interruption of the collection of the tax. The City has not received one call regarding the grocery tax since the first reading.

Council Member Donte Moore stated this is a tax the State was already charging. City Manager McKenna stated that this tax was going directly to the municipalities, not the State, so by cutting the tax, it only affects the City’s income.

Council Member Joe Gliosci stated over 400 municipalities in the State of Illinois have already approved this.

Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve Ordinance #2025-23, an Ordinance Implementing a Municipal Grocery Retailers Occupation Tax and a Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented for Second 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 creation of the new TIF District on North 44th Street. If approved, the City will file the Ordinances with the County to lock in the base EAV.

Council Member Mike Young motioned to approve Ordinance #2025-24, an Ordinance Approving the Tax Increment Redevelopment Plan and Project for the Frontage Road TIF. Seconded by Council Member Jay Tate. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented for Second 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.

Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to approve Ordinance #2025-25, an Ordinance Designating the Frontage Road TIF. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented for Second Reading of an Ordinance Adopting Tax Increment Financing for the Frontage Road TIF.

Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve Ordinance #2025-26, an Ordinance Adopting Tax Increment for the Frontage Road TIF. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis.

City Manager Nathan McKenna presented a Resolution Approving an Agreement with PGAV Planners, LLC for the TIF Extension. McKenna stated he has been working with PGAV Planners on extending the terms of the IPCA and Rt. 15/I-57 TIF Districts. This has not been an easy negotiation with some of the taxing bodies and the City has exhausted the funds in the original agreement with PGAV. This agreement is to extend the agreement for an additional $15,000 to continue pursuing the extensions.

City Council Member Gliosci asked for an explanation of what PGAV actually does as per the agreement. City Manager McKenna stated they do the back survey for the boundary work, help establish the plan and whether or not it qualifies and meets state statute for the qualification of a TIF district. In this case, they are helping with the calculations on the EAV revenue to school districts.

Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to approve a Resolution Approving an Agreement with PGAV Planners, LLC for the TIF Extension. Seconded by Council Member Jay Tate. Yeas: Gliosci, Moore, Tate, Young, and Lewis. #2025-32.

MAYOR

Mayor John Lewis gave statistics on the Mt. Vernon Police Department. He stated that in the month of August, 2025, the Police Department handled 2,333 calls that equals about 75 calls per day. They had 100 detainable arrests, 144 criminal charges, 21 served, conducted 379 traffic stops resulting in 181 citations. 13 people were arrested for DUI, 14 drug charges, they responded to 78 traffic crashes, and they answered 102 alarms. The Detective Division was assigned 53 new cases, of which 8 were in the narcotic division and 45 were general criminal. They cleared 8 by arrest of which 7 were narcotic division and 1 was general criminal, and they referred 9 cases to the States Attorney. The crime scene unit had 7 call-outs. The tactical unit was deployed 9 times, and the K-9 team had 25 deployments. The communication center answered 3,249 calls. Our men and women of the Police Department are busy every day answering calls.

CITY COUNCIL

None.

VISITORS/CITIZENS REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE

Tonya Wilborn spoke again and asked for clarification about the 1% grocery tax. City Manager McKenna responded that the grocery tax funds go into the general budget which is public works, police, fire, and those types of services. Council Member Donte Moore stated that this would take 1.3 million from the annual budget. This would cause a reduction in staff for fire, police, and public works departments.

Ms. Wilborn then asked why local shops aren’t considered to equip the squad cars. Chief Brands stated they are not a dealership for the type of equipment they need.

Ms. Wilborn asked about the roads that had been milled and not asphalted. City Manager McKenna stated that the City has a contract with E.T. Simonds to complete the project. They had just completed a new asphalt plant and are trying to get it up and running. They are supposed to be starting this week or next.

Horton Petties spoke about Section 8 housing – not very much housing left in south town. City Manager McKenna stated that the Mt. Vernon Housing Authority has been working on a housing redevelopment plan. Mayor Lewis stated we just need people that want to develop a project. Council Member Moore stated there are a lot of properties that the City has available that can be built upon or a manufactured home placed upon them. City Manager McKenna stated it just depends on the zoning for the specific property.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

None.

ADJOURNMENT

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

The meeting was adjourned at 7:56 p.m.

https://www.mtvernon.com/media/lufggtz4/september-2-2025-regular-council-meeting.pdf