Mount Vernon council approves sewer loan increase, police staffing change and several resolutions

At its Nov. 4, 2024 meeting, the Mount Vernon City Council approved multiple ordinances and resolutions, taking action on infrastructure, public‑safety staffing and several contracts.

Sewer loan increase: the council approved Ordinance #2024‑38 to increase the IEPA sewer loan to $5,447,717.51 to cover midtown relining, Maple Street and Wagner Road force main replacements, sewer plant inlet work and other replacement/relining costs. The package includes $1,526,579.34 in loan forgiveness; terms noted included a 20‑year loan at 0.83% interest and a stated final loan amount of $3,921,138. Council Member Joe Gliosci moved to suspend the rules and act; the ordinance was approved after motions by Gliosci and Mike Young and a 3–0 vote (Botch and Moore absent).

Police department code amendment: the council approved Ordinance #2024‑39 amending city code to permit up to four police captains and to create a Support Operations/Professional Standards role to handle found/seized property, internal affairs investigations, quartermaster duties, records and FOIA, technology and related supervision. The ordinance allows the chief flexibility to staff the position as captain, sergeant or corporal. The council suspended the rules and approved the ordinance by a 3–0 vote.

Other approvals at a glance: • Mobile home covenant release — Council approved a resolution removing a historical restrictive covenant for 412, 416 and 420 Herbert Street so mobile homes may be placed on those lots (3–0). • Fairfield Road resurfacing — Council approved obligating $167,803 in Rebuild Illinois Motor Fuel Tax funds and up to $132,197 of city Motor Fuel Tax funds for resurfacing Fairfield Road from Stinson Road to Marysville Lane; IDOT FAU funds will supply the balance for an estimated total cost of about $733,000 as a 2025 project (3–0). • Perry Ridge Landfill agreement — Council approved a one‑year contract with Perry Ridge Landfill, Inc. for non‑hazardous wastewater treatment plant waste disposal at $27.00 per ton (a $2/ton increase), through October 2025; projected additional annual cost about $3,200 (3–0). • Illinois Telecommunicator Emergency Response Task Force — Council authorized applying to participate in the voluntary mutual‑aid task force for telecommunicators; participation and any deployments are voluntary for telecommunicators (3–0).

All motions recorded at the meeting were unanimous among those present (Gliosci, Young, Lewis) with Council Members Ray Botch and Donte Moore absent. The paper record shows motions were moved and seconded as follows: multiple initial motions to suspend rules were made by Joe Gliosci or Mike Young and seconded by the other member; formal approvals followed the same pattern.