The Mount Vernon City Council has approved a joint partnership with Clinton Township to apply for $20 million in funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Community-Driven Investments for Change program. The council suspended the requirement for three separate readings of the resolution during its June 10 meeting.

According to the EPA's website, the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants program has approximately $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funds dedicated to environmental and climate justice activities. These funds must benefit "disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges," the website states.

Councilmember John Ruckman moved to suspend the three readings' rule and approve the resolution, according to draft minutes of Mount Vernon City Council's June 10 meeting. Councilmember Mike Miller seconded the motions, which were approved by a 6-0 vote.

Law Director Rob Broeren said that a scrivener's error – a minor and unintentional mistake – in the resolution would be corrected from $20,000 to the correct figure of $20 million, according to draft minutes of the Mount Vernon City Council's June 10 meeting.

Safety-Service Director Tanner Salyers was authorized and directed to apply for federal funding and enter into a joint partnership with Clinton Township, according to draft minutes of the Mount Vernon City Council's June 10 meeting.