MT. VERNON — The Mt. Vernon City Council voted down a motion to reopen bids for the Park Plaza development at Monday’s meeting. The council voted 3-2 to deny the motion brought to the floor by councilman Jim Rippy.

Rippy told the council that he thought the site could be made useful by more than one company and to look into the possibility of two projects on the property.

But the council had already approved a project proposed by Mary Milano for a possible train-loading site on the property. The city is in negotiations with Milano for a final proposal. Mt. Vernon mayor John Lewis says the process has to be fair.

Mt. Vernon City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel says she hopes a final draft for the proposal will be before the city council in about a month.

Councilman Donte Moore, who voted against reopening the bidding, told the council at the meeting that he would not oppose opening bids back up if the current negotiations were to fall through.