MT. VERNON — By a 4-1 vote, the Mt. Vernon City Council approved an economic development agreement with Milano Railcar Services to sell the Park Plaza property to the company for redevelopment. The company plans to bring a trans-loading facility to the land, which the company believes will bring no less than 8 direct full-time jobs to Milano, and no less than another 28 indirect jobs to Mt. Vernon companies that do business with Milano.

Many residents spoke to the council for and against the project. Those for the redevelopment cited the jobs and tax money it would bring the city, along with getting rid of a long-time eyesore near downtown. Those against said the city was looking to bring industry to an area very close to downtown and residential areas, along with wondering what negatives the industry would bring to the highly visible area of town.

Mayor John Lewis told those in attendance at Monday night’s meeting that whether the agreement passed or not, the city was going to have to pay to move the post office out of the building and tear the building down, and that there is no other city money going directly towards the project. He says the approval of this agreement is moving the city forward.

Before any work can be done to the site, the city must move the post office to a new location.