MT. VERNON — Things got heated as a resolution for formal city support of the independent committee looking at potential options for an overpass on the east side of Mt. Vernon was presented to the Mt. Vernon City Council Tuesday night at an otherwise calm meeting.
While the resolution did not get a second at the first council meeting in January, Councilman Donte Moore seconded the motion Tuesday to bring discussion to the table. Moore, who supports what the committee is doing, says he has many questions he wants answered before putting formal support behind any option for an overpass.
Councilman Jeff May says he supports the work the committee is doing, but he believes there is not enough information to approve formal city support for an overpass when no formal options are on the table, and it is too early for a resolution of this kind.
May, Moore, and Councilman Jim Rippy had a tense exchange over the resolution.
The committee continues to report to the Mt. Vernon City Council, but no concrete options or dollar figures have been brought with any new options discussed. The resolution was eventually tabled by a 4-1 vote, with Rippy voting against.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the council voted 4-1 to approve an engineering proposal from Round Table Design in Mt. Vernon for water and sewer projects the city is looking to take on in 2020 and 2021. The work is being done now for an application for possible state tax dollars from the Illinois EPA to fund the projects.
You can listen to Mt. Vernon City Council meetings on AM 940 and 96.5 FM, and also online at WMIX94.com. The next city council meeting is scheduled for February 4th.