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Mt. Vernon council approves $1.6M in bills, awards storm-sewer contract and OKs multiple city agreements
Summary
The Mt. Vernon City Council on Sept. 18 approved consolidated vouchers totaling $1,608,215.48, awarded a $225,789 contract for storm-sewer work, authorized purchases and several agreements — including engineering services for a downtown streetscape and a lease for SSM Health radio equipment — and held an executive session on city property.
The Mt. Vernon City Council on Monday approved consolidated vouchers totaling $1,608,215.48 and cleared a slate of contracts, purchases and project approvals for municipal services and infrastructure.
Mayor John Lewis opened the meeting. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented the consolidated vouchers, and Council Member Joe Gliosci moved to approve them; Ray Botch seconded. The motion carried with Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Young and Lewis; Council Member Donte Moore was absent.
Bechtel told the council staff recommended awarding the storm sewer replacement contract for 11th and Casey to Groundworks Contracting of Breese, Illinois, the low bidder at $225,789.00. Council Member Ray Botch moved to accept the bid results and award the contract; the motion passed unanimously among members present.
The council also authorized a series of routine and project-related items on Bechtel’s agenda. On a motion by Botch, seconded by Mike Young, the council granted a street-closure permit for a block party on Oct. 7, 2023 (33rd Street from SW Crescent to Central Street); approved expanding the Veterans Park lake-dredging scope to include dam construction, a bridge foundation and foundations for two fountains; and authorized staff to solicit bids for a new bridge on the south island of Veterans Park.
Fleet Services Director Mike Shannon advised the council that two Ford Interceptor police vehicles were available through the State of Illinois contract and recommended waiving competitive bidding because of a pending strike. The council voted to waive bidding and purchase the two vehicles at $43,790 each (including licensing), for a total of $87,580.
The council approved a preliminary and final plat to subdivide the property at 522 N. 34th Street. The petitioning party, Sanjog Pangarkar, received unanimous council approval following a prior unanimous recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission.
On contractual matters, the council approved a four-year agreement with Westport Pools to provide Pulsar briquets (calcium hypochlorite sanitizer) and to install a chemical feeder; approved a not-to-exceed $84,500 contract with HMG for engineering services and grant-application work to pursue Illinois ITEP funding for downtown streetscape improvements; and approved a lease allowing SSM Health to place radio equipment on the Times Square Mall water tower to support emergency radio transmissions.
Bechtel also presented a proposal from Terracon to provide Brownfields grant-writing services to pursue funding for Phase I and Phase II environmental assessments of municipal and willing private properties. Bechtel emphasized that participation would not automatically trigger remediation and that private owners must contact the City Manager’s office to participate. The council approved accepting the Terracon proposal.
At 7:15 p.m. Mayor Lewis asked the council to enter executive session under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5) to discuss the purchase or lease of real property for city use. The council voted to go into executive session and reconvened at 7:29 p.m. Council Member Joe Gliosci moved to adjourn after reconvening; the meeting ended at 7:30 p.m.
All motions noted in the meeting minutes were recorded as passing with Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Young and Lewis; Absent: Moore.
