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Mt. Vernon adopts hotel-liquor change, cedes bonding authority and OKs event closures; budget on first reading
Summary
Council adopted Ordinance #2025-05 to align hotel-liquor rules with state law, approved ceding private activity bonding authority to SIEDA (Ordinance #2025-06), passed multiple IDOT closure resolutions for parades and festivals, approved a two‑year pond-service agreement, and received the FY2025–26 proposed budget on first reading.
The Mt. Vernon City Council on March 17 approved a package of ordinances and resolutions affecting liquor rules, financing authority, park maintenance and event permitting.
Council adopted Ordinance #2025-05 (second reading) to amend the City’s Revised Code related to hotel liquor regulations, allowing holders of a hotel license to offer complimentary drinks as part of reservations so the local code conforms with state regulation. Acting City Manager Nathan McKenna told the council there had been no calls or opposition since the ordinance’s first reading; Council Member Donte Moore moved to approve and the motion carried (Yeas: Moore, Young, Lewis).
The council also suspended the rules and approved an ordinance authorizing the ceding of private activity bonding authority to the Southeastern Illinois Economic Development Authority (SIEDA) to preserve the City’s volume cap through Dec. 31 (Ordinance #2025-06).
Several resolutions tied to community events passed. The council authorized requests to the Illinois Department of Transportation for temporary closures of State Route 15 and State Route 37 for the Christmas Parade (Dec. 6, 2025), Salute to Freedom July 4 celebration (July 4, 2025), the Juneteenth Parade (June 14, 2025) and the Fall Fest Parade (Sep. 27, 2025). Each closure resolution passed by recorded vote.
The council also approved a two-year Pond Service Agreement with Shoreline Aquatics, LLC to treat Veteran’s Park Lake, perform fountain maintenance and dye the lake (Resolution #2025-10).
Finally, Finance Director Stephanie Bailey provided the Proposed Budget for FY2025–26 on first reading; McKenna said the budget document will be available in the City Clerk’s office for the required 30-day review period and that several 2026 projects were listed for discussion at the Budget Workshop. The first reading does not adopt the budget; the council will take further action after the public review period.
Mayor John Lewis closed the meeting with a reminder to vote on April 1, 2025; the council adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
