Mount Carmel City Council met September 25.
Here is the minutes provided by the Council:
Invocation was given by Reverend Tony Hodgson.
Present on Roll Call: Mayor Bill Hudson Commissioners – Eric Ikemire, Joe Judge Justin Dulgar, Rod Rodriguez
Also, Present: City Administrative Assistant Rudy Witsman, City Attorney Kelli Storckman
Mayor’s Comments:
Mayor Hudson brought the city council meeting to order.
Mayor Hudson acknowledged Art and Crystal Kimmel of Clean Cut Lawn Care, who were in attendance at the council meeting to discuss their new “leaf vac” lawn service. Mr. Kimmel stated they have their own dump site for the leaves and would not be disposing of leaves at the city’s site. Mr. Kimmel emphasized the city is not paying his business to pick up leaves for the residents of the city. Mayor Hudson stated residents are to “not” rake their leaves into the street but just to the curb for pick-up.
Mayor Hudson acknowledged Wabash County Executive Director Lesley Hipsher, who was seeking council approval for street closures for the Chamber’s Third Annual Spooktacular 5K Fun Run on Saturday, October 21st. Ms. Hipsher stated the race will begin at the city hall parking lot and starting time is 2:00 pm. Ms. Hipsher also announced the Annual Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday, December 2nd starting at 5:15 pm and requested the street closure for Market Street beginning at Third Street to Eighth Street for that event as well.
Mayor Hudson gave condolences to City Inspector Mike Gidcumb in the loss of his father-in-law, Larry Peterson. Mayor Hudson also gave condolences to the family of a former Wabash County resident, Josh Hadra, who had passed away in an incident in Kentucky. Mayor Hudson stated our community lost a friend in the passing of Mr. Stu Grant as well.
Mayor Hudson reported the Mount Carmel High School “Homecoming” event was a big success.
Mayor Hudson congratulated Kim Mandrell and the Marching Aces on their winnings over the weekend at Danville, Illinois.
Mayor Hudson announced the Mount Carmel High School Regional Golf Tournament will be held at the city golf course on Tuesday, October 3rd for the boys and Wednesday, October 4th for the girls.
Mayor Hudson reported on Sunday, November 12th there will be a celebration honoring the three Methodist Ministers that founded the City of Mount Carmel over two hundred years ago. The celebration will take place at the Trinity United Methodist Church beginning at 9:00 am that Sunday. This is first of several celebrations that will be held throughout the coming year to honor the city’s bicentennial in 2018.
Commissioner Reports:
Commissioner Eric Ikemire – Streets, Cemeteries And Parks:
Commissioner Ikemire reported in the last two weeks the street department continued mowing city properties; cleaned intakes; performed repairs on vehicles and equipment; cleaned up trees on the bluff by Railroad Street; tore out and poured new concrete on College View Drive; and painted the turn lanes on Pear Street by the junior high school building.
Commissioner Ikemire thanked Mount Carmel Stabilization for their efforts on the chip and seal maintenance program last month as the actual work performed was $3000 under the bid price.
Commissioner Joe Judge – Finance And Senior Citizens:
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Judge reported the State of Illinois has mandated that municipalities no longer maintain a revolving loan program; effective immediately the city will no longer provide this program. Commissioner Judge stated the Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission provides this service and it is unfortunate the city will no longer be able to assist businesses.
Commissioner Judge stated the city’s finances are a “mixed bag” however, the budget is looking better than it did this time last year in 2016. Commissioner Judge reported the golf course is continuing to do a very good job with its finances. Commissioner Judge stated the golf course is very busy and several people from different areas are coming to Mount Carmel to play golf. Commissioner Judge commended Rick Bobbitt, Tim Woodsmall and their crew for doing an outstanding job.
Commissioner Justin Dulgar – Water And Sewer:
Commissioner Dulgar reported the water maintenance department has been performing its standard maintenance on sewer mains and hydrants; fixed and repaired water leaks; shut off and restored services; and marked utilities for fiber optics. Commissioner Dulgar stated Water Treatment Plant Lead Operator Keith Reed attended the Eighty-Fifth Annual Water Supply Operations Conference in Springfield. Commissioner Dulgar reported the water treatment plant cleaned intakes and the screens on the aerator; mowed and sprayed its yard.
Commissioner Dulgar announced the next Wabash Valley Regional Water Commission meeting will be October 18th at 5:00 pm at the City of Albion. Commissioner Dulgar stated the next step in the process is the final report from Lamac Engineering and then the commission may vote to move forward in seeking federal funding.
Commissioner Dulgar reported the waste water plant delivered semi-annual sampling; the street department assisted in the removal of built up solids and the removal of a piece of inoperable equipment; and Kieffer Brothers Construction is on site forming up concrete that was removed due to the sludge valve repair.
Commissioner Rod Rodriguez – Fire, Health & Safety, Garbage, City Hall And Civil Defense:
Commissioner Rodriguez reported in the last two weeks the fire department responded to nine calls. Commissioner Rodriguez announced October 9th through October 13th is Fire Prevention Week.
Commissioner Rodriguez announced October 2nd through October 6th is the Fall Fix-Up/Clean-Up Week. Commissioner Rodriguez stated items Republic Services will not pick up are construction materials/lumber, appliances, televisions, and electronics. Commissioner Rodriguez stated Republic Services has announced they will not pick up mattresses unless they are covered with some type of plastic. Commissioner Rodriguez stressed to residents to please stop disposing of their old televisions by dropping them off at other locations in the city.
City Administrative Assistant – Rudy Witsman:
City Administrative Assistant Witsman announced he has been in contact with an individual, who will hopefully take “electronics” for recycling. City Administrative Witsman stated the tentative date for the recycling will be Saturday, October 7th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at the city’s brush site on Golden Aces Way. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stressed he needs to confirm the date with the individual first and added “tubed” televisions or large appliances will not be accepted for recycling. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated once the event is confirmed he will make an announcement and the news media will be notified as well.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported once the refurbishing of each of the water towers begins residents in those areas need to be aware that they will experience lower water pressure. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated the water tower near the college will be repaired first and asked residents to please be patient during this process.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated within the consent agenda is the approval of the labor contracts with the firefighters and the machinists, both contracts expired August 31st. City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported the police contract is still in negotiations pending one minor item and that contract does not expire until the end of October. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated he was seeking the council approval for the Firefighters Local #4301 as well as the Machinist District Lodge #111 contracts, which covers the firefighters, street department, water and sewer departments. City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported the three-year contract grants a wage increase of seventy-five cents the first and second years with a fifty cent increase the third year; and the contribution the labors/firefighters make toward their health insurance will be increased by $25.00 a month and the deductible increase $250.00.
City Attorney – Kelli Storckman:
City Attorney Kelli Storckman reported the city has five outstanding ordinance violations that have court dates scheduled in October and two demolition cases with the property owners be “served” this month.
City Inspector – Mike Gidcumb:
City Inspector Gidcumb absent.
Business Motions:
Mayor Hudson and the Council approved the Consent Agenda, as amended in the agenda dated September 25th, 2017. The consent agenda contains the approval of the labor contracts, approval of the minutes for the council meeting held on September 11th, 2017 and the approval of paying all bills bearing the proper signatures.
Meeting adjourned at 5:24 p.m.
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