Mt. Vernon Board of Aldermen approves skatepark budget

Gibb’s Park will be new home of long discussed Mt. Vernon skatepark; Neely announces 2020 resignation
Mt. Vernon is a little closer to getting a skatepark. The Mt. Vernon Board of Aldermen approved the plan and placement for the skatepark as presented by City Administrator Max Springer during their meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Springer showed the board a concept design of the proposed skatepark and requested the board approve the placement of the skatepark in Gibbs Park at the park’s southeast corner, as well as a proposed budget of $100,000 which would include in-kind donations of city labor for preparing the site (Springer did not request money for the skate park, just the approval of the budget). He added that with a budget, the skatepark committee would be able to apply for grants like those available with the Tony Hawk Foundation which could be used to fund the park’s construction. Springer also said the skatepark would run parallel with South Street, and would be located 42 feet from both South and Market streets. The board voted to approve the plan and placement of the skatepark.
Neely resigns…
Springer also said Shannon Neely, city clerk, will resign on Dec. 31, 2020, and requested that a trainee be hired to work with Neely until her resignation to ensure a seamless transition; the board approved the request The board also received a proposed budget for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2020. Springer requested the board review it and let him know if they had any questions, recommendations or need clarification.
Wastewater plant problem addressed…
The board also voted to terminate the city’s contract with Clean Streams, LLC, to manage the wastewater treatment plant. Springer told the board that there is an issue with “trying to handle any stormwater coming into the plant.”
“We’ve been working on the (inflow and inundation),” he said, “but part of the problem is we’ve got to move some sludge and various things, and we’ve not been able to get that worked out with our current providers, and we’re running out of time. We need to do something different.” He proposed terminating the city’s contract with Clean Streams and hiring Everett Williams, LLC, on a temporary basis to get the plant working properly. The board approved the proposal.
In other business…
The board passed an ordinance calling for a general election on April 7, 2020, for the purposes of electing a mayor and an alderman from each of the four wards for a term of two years, and an alderman from Ward Three for a term of one year. They also passed an ordinance vacating an alley between Hazel and West streets.
The board also approved a health insurance plan for city employees from Cox Health Plans, as well as vision and dental insurance. The dental insurance will cost the city $10,203 and the vision insurance will cost $1,836, but Springer reported the city will save $55,502 overall.