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Mount Vernon Council approves cemetery code change, 4.5% non-union pay increase and easement vacation; Uptown lighting hearing set
Summary
On Feb. 19 the Mount Vernon City Council unanimously passed Ordinance #1-20-2025A amending the municipal cemetery code, adopted a per diem travel policy, approved a 4.5% salary increase for non-union staff, vacated a 20-foot stormwater easement connected to the Kwik Trip development and set a March public hearing for Uptown lighting bids.
The Mount Vernon City Council on Feb. 19 unanimously approved changes to the city’s cemetery code, adopted a per diem travel policy and set pay increases for most appointed officers and employees for fiscal year 2025–2026.
Council approved the third and final reading of Ordinance #1-20-2025A to amend Chapter 115 (Cemetery) of the Mount Vernon Municipal Code. Councilmember West moved to adopt the ordinance, Councilmember Andresen seconded, and the roll call vote was recorded as all yes.
The council also approved Resolution #2-19-2025A, establishing a Per Diem Travel Policy intended to reduce reliance on credit card purchases; staff will complete travel expense forms before conferences and receive reimbursement for approved expenditures. Resolution #2-19-2025B sets salaries for appointed officers and employees for FY2025–2026 and establishes a 4.5% increase for non-union personnel; the City Administrator’s salary was excluded from this action because it was previously set in August 2024.
Council voted to approve Resolution #2-19-2025C to vacate an existing 20-foot stormwater easement on Parcel A of Plat of Survey No. 2856. Staff explained the easement is being relocated to the south in connection with a Kwik Trip development and that a new southern stormwater utility easement was previously established. Councilmember Engel moved to approve the resolution; the motion passed on roll call vote.
In other actions, the council accepted public improvements for the Stonebrook 10th Addition following an inspection recommendation from V&K Engineering, and approved Resolution #2-19-2025E to order construction and set preliminary plans for the Uptown Lighting Improvements project; the council set a public hearing on that project for March 17, 2025, and directed that bids be due to City Hall by 2 p.m. on March 13, 2025.
The meeting also included approval of vendor and payroll claims presented to the council. The packet showed payroll claims of $230,978.83 and total payments of $380,715.97 across city funds; council approved the claims list by motion.
The council approved routine invoices and purchases including JEO invoice #158598 for $6,308.00 (Uptown Streetscape) and OPN invoice #24426000-2 for $7,056.18 (Mount Vernon Early Childhood Center). Council approved the low bid from 8 Finger HVAC, LLC to install HVAC in the Public Works break area for $9,485.00 and authorized a chalk purchase for the Chalk the Walk festival through Danielle Chargo at Iron Leaf Press not to exceed $4,100.00.
The council set a separate public hearing on the proposed property tax levy for FY2026 for April 7, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
Votes at a glance: Ordinance #1-20-2025A (cemetery code) — approved (roll call all yes); Resolution #2-19-2025A (Per Diem Travel Policy) — approved; Resolution #2-19-2025B (FY26 salaries, 4.5% non-union increase) — approved; Resolution #2-19-2025C (easement vacation for Kwik Trip) — approved (roll call all yes); Resolution #2-19-2025D (accept Stonebrook 10th Addition improvements) — approved; Resolution #2-19-2025E (Uptown Lighting Improvements hearing and plans) — approved.
The council packet and full reports (police, public works, parks and recreation, Cole Library) were filed with the city and are available on the Mount Vernon City website. The meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m.
