MT. VERNON — The Mt. Vernon City Council gave the city manager the go ahead to seek bids for rehabilitation work to the Opdyke water tank at Monday night’s city council meeting. The project would be funded through IEPA loan money.

The work is a part of the extensive work the city is planning on doing to the city’s water and sewer systems over the next 10 to 20 years. Bechtel told the council she’s excited to see that work could start on this project soon.

Bechtel says the city has asked the IEPA for 50 percent forgiveness on the $990-thousand loan. She says if the 50 percent forgiveness is approved, the city would owe the state $27-thousand per year for the term of the loan.

The council also approved the bid for demolition of 19 properties in the city to Kenneth A. Hails Excavating of Texico for $93,800.