Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Government topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mount Vernon council approves DORA, new building code, rezoning and contracts
Summary
At its Oct. 21 meeting, the Mount Vernon City Council approved a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area ordinance, adopted the 2021 International Building Code with an exception for single-family sprinklers, rezoned a property for a manufactured home, awarded a $49,357 alley contract and approved $1.87 million in vouchers.
MOUNT VERNON, Ill. — The Mount Vernon City Council on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024 approved several routine and policy items, including a new Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), adoption of an updated building code, a rezoning request and a small public-works contract.
Deputy City Clerk Becky Barbour opened the meeting in the absence of Mayor John Lewis and Council Member Donte Moore served as Mayor Pro Tem. Council Members Joe Gliosci, Donte Moore and Mike Young were present; Council Member Ray Botch and Mayor John Lewis were absent.
The council approved consolidated vouchers for accounts payable totaling $1,865,552.88. Council Member Joe Gliosci moved to approve the vouchers; Mike Young seconded. The motion carried on a unanimous vote of the three members present.
In public-business items, City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel recommended awarding the bid for improvement of the 9th–10th Street alley for Broadway Commons Park to low bidder Luke Rollie Concrete of Woodlawn for $49,357.00. The council approved the award. The bid tabulation provided in the meeting packet showed six bidders with amounts ranging from $49,357.00 to $117,963.23.
Bechtel presented an ordinance rezoning 1009 S. 13th Street from I-1 (industrial) to R-M2 to permit placement of a manufactured home; petitioner Melba McCaskill was present. Planning and Zoning recommended approval by a 4–0 vote and no public opposition was recorded. Council Member Joe Gliosci moved to approve Ordinance #2024-35; Mike Young seconded and the ordinance passed.
The council also took final action on two citywide ordinances. The council approved Ordinance #2024-36, creating a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area. According to the ordinance summary presented at the meeting, the DORA permits public consumption of alcoholic beverages only within the legally defined district, between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m.; beverages must be purchased from businesses holding a DORA permit and served in approved branded plastic cups. The city will install signage to mark the district and has posted a QR code and the full rules on the city website and in the Mount Vernon app.
On building rules, the council approved Ordinance #2024-37 to adopt the 2021 International Building Code with specified exceptions. The stated exception removes the requirement for sprinkler systems in new single-family residential construction; no further changes were recorded in the meeting minutes.
Council members also approved a resolution authorizing an employment agreement between the city and Nathan McKenna; the meeting record does not specify a resolution number or McKenna’s title.
At 7:09 p.m., Mayor Pro Tem Donte Moore moved the council into executive session under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5) and (c)(6) to discuss purchase or lease of real property and setting a price for sale or lease of city-owned property. The council reconvened at 7:43 p.m. and adjourned at 7:44 p.m.
Votes recorded in the minutes list the three present council members (Gliosci, Moore and Young) as voting yes on the motions and ordinances noted; Botch and Mayor John Lewis were recorded as absent for roll call.
