Mount Vernon Optic-Herald

The Mount Vernon City Council has no plans to change the city’s 30 year ordinance against oil and gas exploration within the city limits.
The council conducted a 44 minute executive session with the city’s attorney Kerry Wooten of Mount Pleasant Tuesday, July 13. The session, which was to seek legal advice on pending litigation, was conducted prior to the start of the council’s regular monthly meeting. No action was taken as a result of that executive / special session. In a letter dated July 5, the exploration firm of Schowalter and Flowers in Tyler requested  either “an exception or variance from the city’s no drilling ordinance.”  The investors seeking the change in the ordinance outlined their plans at the council’s May 25 workshop session. See the July 22 edition of the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald for more details.