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Mt. Vernon council approves $2.29M in payments, rezones Loyola Road parcel and clears utility move for solar field
Summary
At its Oct. 7 meeting, the Mt. Vernon City Council approved consolidated vouchers totaling $2,289,024.60, authorized $85,576 for downtown park furniture, approved rezoning of 14650 E. Loyola Road to allow a manufactured home, and approved a utility-relocation agreement for a Shawnee Solar project.
The Mt. Vernon City Council on Monday approved consolidated vouchers totaling $2,289,024.60 and a set of measures including a rezoning request for a Loyola Road parcel and a utility-relocation agreement to accommodate a solar project.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel asked the council to approve the consolidated vouchers and several routine procurement and project steps during the Oct. 7 regular meeting at City Hall. Council members voted in favor of the voucher package, and later approved a waiver of bidding to purchase downtown park furniture from Landscape Forms for $85,576 and permission to seek bids for manhole construction in the U.S. EPA Community Grant project area (estimated about $150,000).
Bechtel presented Ordinance No. 2024-33 to rezone 14650 E. Loyola Road from R-1 to R-M2 at the request of petitioning party Marjorie Schwartz so the owner may place a manufactured home on the lot; the council approved the rezoning. The council also voted to adopt Ordinance No. 2024-34, removing the city's $5,000 cap on raffle cash and non-cash prize limits after a motion to suspend the rules and take action.
The council approved a resolution authorizing a utility relocation agreement to accommodate the Shawnee Solar field at the 700 block of Newby Avenue. Under the agreement, the solar developer will pay for materials and the city will relocate a water line to a new easement and terminate the existing easement on the property.
Two code proposals were presented for first reading only: an ordinance to create a designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA) allowing licensed downtown establishments to serve alcohol for outdoor consumption between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. in branded cups with restrictions, and an ordinance to adopt the International Building Codes 2021 with exceptions (notably removing a sprinkler requirement for new single-family homes). Those measures will return for further consideration at future meetings.
Bechtel introduced McKenzie May as the city's new Director of Parks and Recreation. May spoke briefly about returning to her hometown and plans to implement new programs; the city will host an open house at the Rolland Lewis Building on Oct. 9 where residents can meet May and review plans for Veterans Park and Lincoln Park. Bechtel also announced a "Meet the Chiefs" event Oct. 15, fall leaf burning Oct. 14'Oct. 20, and an electronic-recycling event Oct. 26 at 1201 Casey Avenue.
All motions recorded at the meeting carried with four votes in favor (Council Members Ray Botch, Donte Moore, Mike Young and Mayor John Lewis). Council Member Joe Gliosci was absent. The meeting was adjourned at 7:19 p.m.
