I-64 westbound ramp to be closed

MT. VERNON - The Illinois Department of Transportation will be closing the Interstate 64 westbound ramp on Fridays through Monday mornings each week during construction of additional lanes on Interstate 57.

"The ramp closure is for traffic control only," Keith Roberts of IDOT explained. "We're doing this to try to alleviate horrible backups we had in the past for that area."

Roberts said with Illinois Route 37 as a secondary detour for the construction on I-57, people have been using the state highway, then re-entering at the I-64.

"They think they have gotten around any backup, but they are just jumping back into it at the worst place," Roberts said. "This is an effort to help direct motorists away from that area up to the Dix exit during the peak traffic count hours."

Roberts said IDOT has looked at the traffic counts for the area, and said, with a few exceptions, traffic backups on I-57 have been "tolerable"

"The maximum delays of peak hours of traffic are 20 to 25 minutes, maximum," Roberts said. "With the anticipation of people using the backup detour, we need to keep people on the detour past Dix to help with the construction congestion, otherwise, the detour doesn't help."

Roberts said peak traffic hours are northbound on I-57 on weekends, which is prompting the intermittent ramp closure.

"Due to the reconstruction of I-57, and heavier traffic volumes during weekend hours, the ramp from Illinois Route 37 to access I-64 westbound will be closed on Fridays and remain closed until Monday (morning) each week," information from IDOT states. "This closure will continue on weekends only until further notice. Motorists wanting to access I-57 should use Illinois Route 37 north to Dix and access I-57 via the ramps at Dix." - http://bit.ly/HQDmlZ

MVTHS Board approves resolution

MT. VERNON - A resolution for a line of credit was approved by the Mt. Vernon Township High School Board during its April meeting.The line of credit is for $1.5 million and would last until Dec. 31. The money would be held in reserve in case the money is needed, Superintendant Dr. Michael Smith said depending on state revenue monies, among other situations."We have not had to use that in the past," Smith said, "and we hope that we won't need it."The board also approved the permanent abatement of monies from its working cash fund to site and construction of the new high school.President of the board, Carl Miller, said the working cash fund was temporary, and the money will now be in an account to be used for bills as needed toward construction costs.In other business, the board:

Approved a bid for the second phase of G Building window replacements to Litteken Construction from Breese. The amount cannot exceed $111,000 for the construction;

Heard that attendance is up, but enrollment at the school is down compared to last year. Smith said better attendance will make up for the gap in state aid made by lower enrollement numbers;

Were updated that contracts for the new high school are being reviewed prior to presentation to the board.  Smith added he would be speaking with city officials to answer any final questions they may have on the project later this week; and

Heard state testing is coming up next week. - http://bit.ly/I3EAcB

Mt. Vernon Mobile home ordinance approved

MT. VERNON — An ordinance which will prohibit further mobile homes placed in RM2 zoned areas of the city was approved Monday, with no public comment.

“This is an amended version of the ordinance as originally presented,” City Manager Ron Neibert said. “The changes have taken place due to public comment up to this time.”

Under terms of the new ordinance, there is a provision which will allow current property owners to receive a conditional use for mobile homes up to Dec. 13 in RM2 zoned areas, as long as the person placing the mobile home owned the property before Jan. 1; the application for conditional use be submitted before Oct. 31; the mobile home must be placed by Dec. 31; and is adjacent to a lot in which a mobile home is currently situated, not next to a stick built home unless written permission is presented by the owner of the stick built home.

Other changes from the original ordinance presented state the mobile home must have been manufactured not more than 15 years prior to the date of application for a building permit and is subject to inspection for compliance with Mobile Home Standards if it is older than five years.

Neibert said the changes to the zoning ordinance for RM2 allowed uses also amends a portion that has nothing to do with mobile homes — it now allows duplexes to be built in the zoning district.  full story