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Mt. Vernon council approves rezoning, extends two TIF districts and OKs $1.06 million in vouchers
Summary
At its Jan. 21 meeting the Mt. Vernon City Council approved a rezoning ordinance to allow additional apartments on Sparrow Lane, endorsed extensions of two tax-increment financing districts to 2045, accepted a $435,621.83 traffic-signal bid, and approved $1,056,967.12 in consolidated vouchers.
The Mt. Vernon City Council on Jan. 21 voted unanimously (4–0, with one member absent) to approve a series of routine and development-related actions, including a rezoning that could allow additional apartments, resolutions to extend two tax-increment financing districts and the acceptance of a single bid for traffic signal construction.
The council approved Ordinance No. 2025-01 to rezone property at 2504/12506 N. Sparrow Lane from A-G to R-3 following a presentation by City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel. The petitioning party, John Dalton, said the parcel could accommodate a fourplex. Council Member Joe Gliosci moved approval; Ray Botch seconded and the motion passed (yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Young, Lewis; absent: Donte Moore).
Bechtel also presented two resolutions supporting extensions of existing tax-increment financing districts. The Route 15/I‑57 TIF, established in 2010 and currently due to expire in 2033, won council support to extend its term 12 years to 2045 so the city can remain competitive for projects. Council also approved extending the Industrial Conservation Area TIF (which includes Chesley Industrial Park on the west side of the interstate) to 2045. Both resolutions were presented as items the state legislature must approve to become effective.
On capital spending and contracts, the council approved consolidated vouchers for accounts payable totaling $1,056,967.12. The council also accepted the lone bid received for construction of traffic signals at South 34th Street and Veterans Memorial Drive: Brown Electric submitted a bid of $435,621.83 and staff recommended awarding the contract. Council Member Joe Gliosci moved to accept the bid; the motion passed with the same 4–0 vote.
Bechtel requested permission to seek bids to replace and relocate the 45th Street and Broadway water main, a relocation required by the Illinois Department of Transportation as part of the Exit 95 overpass reconstruction; the council granted permission to solicit bids.
Votes at a glance: • Approval of Journal for Dec. 16, 2024 — Motion: approve; Result: passed (yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Young, Lewis; absent: Moore). • Consolidated Vouchers — $1,056,967.12 — Motion: approve; Result: passed (4–0). • Traffic signals at S. 34th & Veterans Memorial Drive — Bid award to Brown Electric — $435,621.83 — Motion: accept bid; Result: passed (4–0). • Seek bids for 45th St./Broadway water main relocation — Motion: grant permission to seek bids; Result: passed (4–0). • Ordinance #2025-01 Rezoning (2504/12506 N. Sparrow Lane A-G to R-3) — Petition: John Dalton — Motion: approve; Result: passed (4–0). • Resolution #2025-01 Support extension of Route 15/I‑57 TIF to 2045 — Motion: approve; Result: passed (4–0). • Resolution #2025-02 Support extension of Industrial Conservation Area TIF to 2045 — Motion: approve; Result: passed (4–0).
Why it matters: Extending TIF districts gives Mt. Vernon a longer financing window to pursue economic-development projects and incentives. The rezoning allows denser residential development on Sparrow Lane, and the traffic-signal and water-main work are part of infrastructure changes tied to state road projects and public-safety improvements.
The council went into an executive session under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6) at 7:21 p.m. to discuss setting a price for sale or lease of city-owned property and reconvened later that evening.
