Mt. Vernon City Council met Feb. 5.
Here is the minutes provided by council:
The Mt. Vernon City Council held a Regular City Council Meeting on Monday, February 5, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at the Rolland W. Lewis Community Building, Veterans Park, 800 South 27th Street, Mt. Vernon, IL.
Due to the absence of Mayor John Lewis, City Clerk Mary Jo Pemberton called the meeting to order.
The first order of business was the appointment of a Mayor Pro Tem. Council Member Jim Rippy nominated Council Member Jeff May as Mayor Pro Tem. No second was required. All in favor.
Council Member Jeff May was appointed as Mayor Pro Tem and called the meeting to order.
Reverend Kent Jackson from Family Life Church gave the invocation.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Roll Call
Roll call showed present: Mayor Pro Tem Jeff May, Council Member Donte Moore, Council Member Jim Rippy, and Council Member Mike Young. Absent: Mayor John Lewis.
Presentation of Journals
The Journal for the January 16, 2018 Regular City Council Meeting was presented to Council for any additions, deletions or corrections.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve the Journal as presented. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy and Young. Absent: Lewis.
Visitors/Citizens Requests/Addresses From The Audience
No comments were heard.
Approval Of Consolidated Vouchers For Accounts Payable
The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable were presented to Council for approval.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable in the amount of $1,347,837.88. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy and Young. Absent: Lewis.
Bids & Quotes
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented the bid results for the South 44th Street Reconstruction Project. Seven (7) bids were submitted and the lowest responsive responsible bidder was Hanks Excavating and Landscaping in the amount of $723,647.35. The bids submitted:
1. DMS Contracting, Mascoutah, IL $776,646.85
2. Baxmeyer Construction, Waterloo, IL $749,777.77
3. Guinzy Construction, Ashley, IL $798,790.10
4. Hanks Excavating & Landscaping, Belleville, IL $723,647.35
5. E.T. Simonds Construction Co., Carbondale, IL $793,839.93
6. Sierra Bravo Contractors, Sesser, IL $1,001,497.35
7. Samron Midwest Contracting, Murphysboro, IL $832,947.28
Bechtel reported that the bid was lower than expected. The City has not used Hanks Excavating and Landscape for any former projects, but the City Engineer is aware of their work at other locations. Council Member Donte Moore explained that this project will curb and concrete 44th Street from Broadway south to the former Captain D’s location. Bechtel reported that the north 44th Street will be ready for bid in the next few weeks.
Motion by Council Member Donte Moore to award the bid for the South 44th Street Reconstruction Project to Hanks Excavating and Landscaping for $723,647.35. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy and Young. Absent: Lewis.
City Manager
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested Council’s permission to seek bids for fireworks for the 2018, 2019, and 2020 Fourth of July Salute to Freedom Celebrations. This bid seeks the most products for the fireworks display, not to exceed $20,000 without a rain date. Bechtel stated that this year the three-year bid request may generate more interest from bidders.
Motion by Council Member Mike Young to seek bids for fireworks for the 2018, 2019, and 2020 Fourth of July Salute to Freedom Celebrations. Seconded by Council Member Jim Rippy. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy and Young. Absent: Lewis.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested Council’s permission to close 6th Street from Jordan to Casey for a six-month period for the demolition of the former Mt. Vernon Township High School Buildings. Bechtel explained this closure is for safety reasons while High School Buildings A-F are demolished.
Motion by Council Member Donte Moore to approve the closure of 6th Street from Jordan to Casey for a six-month period for the demolition of the former Mt. Vernon Township High School Buildings. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, and Young. Abstain: Rippy. Absent: Lewis.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested Council’s permission to close 9th Street between Broadway Street and Harrison Street on May 5, 2018 for the Frank Belmont Memorial Ride and 5K Festivities. Kingdom Seed Ministries, Inc. (KSM) is requesting the closure. Property owners signed stating that are supporting the closing of this street. Monty Jo Clark and Tammy Henry explained the purpose of the Frank Belmont Memorial Ride and 5K Festivities. Belmont was a big supporter of the KSM’s Happy Feet Program which provides shoes to underprivileged children. All proceeds will go to the Happy Feet Program.
Motion by Council Member Jim Rippy to approve the closure of 9th Street between Broadway Street and Harrison Street on May 5, 2018 for the Frank Belmont Memorial Ride and 5K Festivities. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, and Young. Absent: Lewis.
City Attorney
City Attorney David Leggans presented for first reading an Ordinance Declaring Property Surplus. The property to be declared surplus is a 2015 Chevrolet 2500 Pick Up Truck.
Motion by Council Member Donte Moore to suspend the rules to vote on an Ordinance. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, and Young. Absent: Lewis.
Motion by Council Member Donte Moore to adopt Ordinance #2018-04 an Ordinance Declaring Property Surplus. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, and Young. Absent: Lewis.
City Attorney David Leggans presented for first reading an Ordinance Amending Article 8, Section 8.1, Fire and Police Commission, increasing the number of Commissioners from three (3) to five (5). City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that increasing the number of Commissioners will expand representation. Mayor Pro Tem May asked how the unions feel about increasing the number. Bechtel replied that there are no issues.
Motion by Council Member Jim Rippy to suspend the rules to vote on an Ordinance. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, and Young. Absent: Lewis.
Motion by Council Member Donte Moore to adopt Ordinance #2018-05 an Ordinance Amending Article 8, Section 8.1, Fire and Police Commission, increasing the number of Commissioners from three (3) to five (5). Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, and Young. Absent: Lewis.
City Attorney David Leggans presented for Council’s consideration an Inducement Resolution for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Assistance with Kingdom Seed Ministries, Inc. (KSM) for property located at 118 S. 9th Street. KSM is desiring to provide a state of the art conference and meeting space to local agencies and businesses, encompassing the second floor of the facility and seating up to 125 participants. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel explained that this is the first step in applying for TIF Assistance. It is not a promise of benefit, but it sets a date for them to proceed with their project. Any eligible expenses from this date to the award date can be considered for reimbursement.
Mayor Pro Tem May asked the number of other Inducement Resolutions in line for the Downtown TIF District. Bechtel replied two and at year-end the amount of funds available will be $181,000.
Motion by Council Member Donte Moore to approve the Inducement Resolution for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Assistance with Kingdom Seed Ministries, Inc. (KSM) for property located at 118 S. 9th Street. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, and Young. Absent: Lewis.
Mayor
Mayor Pro Tem Jeff May presented for Council’s approval the appointment of Rev. Erie Patton and the reappointment of Sean Featherstun to the Minority Affairs and Human Relations Commission.
Motion by Council Member Jim Rippy to appoint Rev. Erie Patton and the reappointment of Sean Featherstun to the Minority Affairs and Human Relations Commission. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, and Young. Absent: Lewis.
Mayor Pro Tem Jeff May presented for Council’s approval the reappointment of George W. (Bill) Beck to the Fire and Police Commission.
Motion by Council Member Donte Moore to reappoint George W. (Bill) Beck to the Fire and Police Commission. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, and Young. Absent: Lewis.
Mayor Pro Tem Jeff May presented for Council’s approval the reappointment of Paul Lynch to the Downtown TIF Advisory Board.
Motion by Council Member Donte Moore to reappoint Paul Lynch to the Downtown TIF Advisory Board. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, and Young. Absent: Lewis.
City Council
Council Member Donte Moore spoke on the new City housing program that provides City-owned vacant lots free-of-charge to residents who plan to build or place mobile homes on the lots within a year period. Moore stated that residents should contact Nathan McKenna, Assistant to the City Manager, for more information.
Council Member Jim Rippy stated that February 15th is his deadline for an answer on the reopening of 7th Street.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel reported that the City received three proposals for the former Park Plaza Shopping Center. This will come before the City Council in the next few weeks.
Visitors/Citizens Requests/Addresses From The Audience
No comments were heard from the public.
Executive Session
City Manager Bechtel requested an Executive Session for the quarterly review of Executive Session Minutes 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (21).
Council Member Donte Moore made a motion to adjourn to Executive Session for the quarterly review of Executive Session Minutes 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (21). Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, and Young. Absent: Lewis.
Council returned to open session at 7:30 p.m.
Council Member Jim Rippy motioned to reconvene the Regular City Council Meeting. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, and Young. Absent: Lewis.
The Executive Session Minutes of November 7, 2016, March 20, 2017, May 1, 2017, August 21, 2017, and December 4, 2017 were presented for public inspection.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to open for public inspection the Executive Session Minutes of November 7, 2016, March 20, 2017, May 1, 2017, August 21, 2017, and December 4, 2017. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, and Young. Absent: Lewis.
Adjournment
Council Member Jim Rippy motioned to adjourn. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: May, Moore, Rippy, and Young. Absent: Lewis.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:31 p.m.
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