City of Mt. Vernon Public Budget Hearing and Special City Council met April 27.
Here is the minutes provided by the Council:
Due to the absence of Mayor Mary Jane Chesley, City Clerk Jerilee Hopkins called the meeting to order. As City Clerk, she stated the first order of business was to appoint a Mayor Pro Tem. Nominations were opened. Council Member Donte Moore nominated Council Member Dennis McEnaney. No second was required and no further nominations were made. The nomination for Mayor Pro Tem closed. McEnaney was nominated and all in attendance said aye. No opposition.
Council Member Dennis McEnaney was appointed as Mayor Pro Tem.
Mayor Pro Tem McEnaney called the meeting to order.
Roll Call
Roll call showed present: Council Members Jeff May, Dennis McEnaney, Donte Moore, and Todd Piper. Absent: Mayor Mary Jane Chesley.
Visitors/Citizens Requests/Addresses From The Audience
No comments were presented from the audience.
Public Budget Hearing
Mayor Pro Tem McEnaney said that the next order of business was the discussion of an Ordinance Approving the 2017/2018 Budget. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel reported that the budget was discussed in detail at the April 19, 2017 Workshop Meeting. A change was made regarding the Downtown TIF District by creating a new account “Infrastructure Improvement” and diverting $30,000 to this account for a downtown sidewalk project. The change does alter the revenue, but only reallocates the funds for infrastructure.
Overall, revenues are down $873,388 and expenses were reduced by $1,455,000 which resulted in an improvement of $608,000. From those funds, $590,000 were moved to the Capital Fund for the City Council to determine its use. Health insurance increased $700,000. In the budget, $240,000 was included for a 2.77% pay increase. No demolition projects are planned. If the Council chooses to do demolition projects the funds will come from the Capital Fund. Two of the seven laid off employees were called back. To bring all seven back, it would take an additional $357,000. Bechtel stated that the budget is balanced and an improvement of $6,119 in the Working Fund is expected at the end of the fiscal year, April 30, 2018. The Working Fund balance is expected to be $3,399,000.
Council Member Jeff May asked for the amount budgeted for the 2010 and 2012 outstanding bonds principle and interest payments. Finance Director Merle Hollmann explained that revenue to finance the bonds comes from five sources: one half percent Sales Tax, Food and Beverage Tax, Diesel Tax, one percent Telecommunications Tax, and the three percent Public Utilities Tax. The revenue amounts to $3,928,000. City’s Debt Service on the 2010 and 2012 bonds is $3,243,231. The interest rate on the 2010 bonds is around 3.8% and for the 2012 bonds is 3.6%. Hollmann explained that the total debit services expenses amount to $3,561,468. This results in excess funds of $366,250.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel reported that the Motor Tax Fund is projecting a $391,000 revenue stream. From those funds, $142,000 was used for Public Works employees. The balance will be used for the asphalt overlay projects on 11th Street (Main to Harrison), Conger (12th to 26th) and North 32nd (Broadway to Center) and oil/chip and rock/oil. Public Works Director Matt Fauss maintains an extensive data base that prioritizes the City streets and each year he selects the streets to be repaired. Streets are prioritized by condition, traffic, and whether cast iron water mains are in place. In addition, Fauss maintains an extensive data base on sidewalks.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel reported that the Sanitation Fund is in good shape. For Fiscal Year 2017-18, there is an increase of $12,000. The projected ending Working Cash Fund balance is $9,059. The rates are not projected to be raised during next three years based on the contract to presented later in the meeting.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel reported that the Aquatic Zoo Fund showed an increase of $38,000. The account shows a balance $141,000. The Aquatic Zoo is scheduled to be painted this year. The lifespan of the paint is around four to five years. Revenue for Fiscal Year 2017/18 is projected to be $412,000 with expenditures of $401,000. The projected ending Working Cash Fund balance is $152,049. The expansion of parking lot is scheduled next year and the 2012 Bonds will pay for the project.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel reported that the Special Service Area #1 Fund will finance sidewalk repair at 9th and Jordan and the purchase of trash receptacles. The new LED lights have been installed by Public Works employees.
The Public Meeting was adjourned at 5:17 p.m.
Special City Council Meeting
Mayor Pro Tem McEnaney called the Special City Council Meeting to order.
Roll Call
Roll call showed present: Council Members Jeff May, Dennis McEnaney, Donte Moore, and Todd Piper. Absent: Mayor Mary Jane Chesley.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve Ordinance #2017-21, the Adoption of the 2017/2018 Budget. Seconded by Council Member Todd Piper. Yeas: May, McEnaney, Moore, and Piper. Absent: Chesley.
Mayor Pro Tem McEnaney presented for Council’s consideration the first reading of an Ordinance Authorizing the Sale of Municipal Property located Adjacent to South 42nd Street. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that due to the construction of the new interchange, Exit 94, the City ended up with 0.1465-acre of land. The land is in the IDOT access control area and the City will never be able to access the property by roadway. The owners of the adjacent property, B & J Family Limited Partnership, has interest in purchasing this tract of land from the City. B & J has offered to purchase the 0.1465-acre tract for the sum of $13,231 plus the conveyance to the City of two tracts totaling.01215-acres for right-of-way for 42nd Street. First reading was held.
Mayor Pro Tem McEnaney presented for Council’s consideration the Resolution Approving a Contract Extension with Republic Services for Trash Services. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that due to a voting technicality at the last City Council Meeting, this item is being presented again. This is a five-year extension of the contract with Republic Services. Included in the contract is weekly trash pickup, bi-monthly recycling pickup, weekly yard waste, weekly bulk pickup by appointment, and a new electronic recycling service. The contact is based on 4,863 accounts. Annually, the accounts will be audited and the contact will be adjusted by the number of accounts. Another part of the contact includes an opt-out recycling provision with 90-day advance written notice, $9 fee for each recycling container recovered from a resident unit, and a $36 fee for each unrecovered recycling container. The recycling container fees are not to exceed $90,000. The City’s monthly cost is $18.20 per residential unit. Residents are charged $19.00 monthly.
Council Member Todd Piper motioned to approve the Resolution Approving a Contract Extension with Republic Services for Trash services. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: May, McEnaney, Moore, and Piper. Absent: Chesley.
Mayor Pro Tem McEnaney presented for Council’s consideration the Resolution approving the Collective Bargaining Agreement for Telecommunicators and LEADS Coordinator for the period of May 1, 2016 through April 30, 2018. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel reported that contract averages a 2.77% pay increase. Other changes deal with days off and uniforms.
Motion by Council Member Donte Moore to approve the Resolution approving the Collective Bargaining Agreement for Telecommunicators and LEADS Coordinator for the period of May 1, 2016 through April 30, 2018. Seconded by Council Member Todd Piper. Yeas: May, McEnaney, Moore, and Piper. Absent: Chesley.
Executive Session
No Executive Session was held.
Adjournment
Council Member Todd Piper made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Council Member Jeff May. Yeas: May, McEnaney, Moore, and Piper. Absent: Chesley.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:31 p.m.
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