MT. VERNON — The Mt. Vernon City Council has given the city manager permission to seek bids for a new roof and other repairs to the city’s Public Works building.

City manager Mary Ellen Bechtel says the estimated cost of the project will be about $47,000, and money was budget this year for the repairs in the capital improvements fund. She says with the city looking to stay in this building long-term, it needs to be maintained.

Also at the meeting, city finance director Merle Hollmann presented the first reading of the ordinance for the levy and collection of taxes in the city for the coming year. He told the council that the increase would be 2.17%, down from a 4.99% increase last year. Hollmann says that while public pensions account for the need for the increase, the city’s payment into the state’s retirement plans is lower than anticipated for the coming year.

That measure will be voted on when it’s read for a second time at the next city council meeting, which is scheduled for December 17th at 7 p.m. at the Rolland W. Lewis Community Building at Veterans Park in Mt. Vernon.