City of Mount Carmel City Council met February 26.
Here is the minutes as provided by the council:
Invocation was given by Reverend Tony Hodgson.
Present on Roll Call: Mayor Bill Hudson Commissioners – 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 Reverend Kevin McGinnis, Pastor of the Wabash Presbyterian Church at Orio and President of Wabash County Ministerial Alliance, who presented to the council a $1000 donation from the alliance for the Wabash County Senior Citizens Center. Reverend Tony Hodgson also presented a donation for the Senior Citizens Center from Heartland Worship Center Church and he challenged the area churches as well as the area businesses to contribute.
Mayor Hudson acknowledged Amanda Andrews along with students Allison Armstrong, and Addie Drone, who were seeking council approval for the Youth Advisory Board’s Color Run Event on Saturday, May12th. Mayor Hudson stated the advisory board should contact the police department regarding the race route.
Mayor Hudson thanked all the organizations and individuals who have helped raise funds for the Wabash County Senior Citizens Center. Mayor Hudson stated it is was a wonderful event.
Mayor Hudson thanked all departments of all phases and all the individuals who helped with the flooding issues during the massive rain over the weekend.
Mayor Hudson thanked the Mardi Gras Committee for the great event held last Saturday evening. Mayor Hudson stated the event brings in lots of individuals from out of town.
Mayor Hudson reported the Wabash General Hospital and the Wabash Valley College Cadaver Procedure Event was held on February 23rd at the college. Mayor Hudson stated over 500 individuals including students and professionals attended the event.
Commissioner Reports:
Commissioner Eric Ikemire – Streets, Cemeteries and Parks
Commissioner Ikemire absent.
Commissioner Joe Judge – Finance and Senior Citizens
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Judge stated letters will be sent out soon to each of the department heads informing them of the status of their individual budgets.
Commissioner Judge thanked everyone who supported, donated or attended the Wabash County Senior Citizens Center Chili Supper Fundraiser. Commissioner Judge reported the night of the fundraiser $4920.50 was collected along with $6501.65 in proceeds from the sponsors and donors for a grand total of $11,422.15. Commissioner Judge reiterated the event was amazing.
Commissioner Judge stated the VFW Women’s Auxiliary donated $900 from their bingo night event and Saint John the Baptist Episcopal Church will be donating $3000 a month for the next three months. Commissioner Judge reported with all the donations, including the ones received at tonight’s council meeting, the center should have enough operating money to stay open through at the least the middle of May. Commissioner Judge announced a PA system was donated as well as a chest freezer. Commissioner Judge stated the center is very thankful for the freezer donation as one its freezers stopped working last Thursday. Commissioner Judge thanked City Administrative Assistant Rudy Witsman, Street Department Superintendent Dave Easter, the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce for helping move the frozen food to other locations for storage as well as Borowiaks IGA and Mount Carmel High School for offering the storage of the food. Commissioner Judge also thanked Sharp and Williams for its quick response on repairing the freezer and the city’s street department for moving the frozen food back to the center on Friday.
Commissioner Judge announced March 6th through March 9th he will be attending an Illinois Rural Economic Development Meeting in Springfield, Illinois and is in hopes of bringing back some useful information to the city.
Commissioner Justin Dulgar – Water and Sewer
Commissioner Dulgar reported the levee stations have been activated and are running; the trial chemical water treatment process at the water plant has been completed and the plant has returned to the previous treatment process until the results are received.
Commissioner Dulgar announced the Wabash Valley Regional Water Commission will meet on Thursday, March 1st at 6:00 pm at City Hall in Albion.
Commissioner Dulgar stated the water maintenance department checked all levee gates for obstructions and shut the gates; turned on and tested the levee pumps; and used the jet truck at multiple locations to check for and/or clear blockages.
Commissioner Dulgar reported the wastewater plant activated the Division Street flood pump; the lift station at Pecan Avenue has been fully upgraded and is operational.
Commissioner Dulgar reiterated a decision on whether it is feasible for the City of Mount Carmel to join in with the Cities of Grayville and Albion and the Village of Keensburg on a new regional water treatment facility is forthcoming. Commissioner Dulgar stated the two options for consideration for the City of Mount Carmel is to either build its own new facility or to join in the building of a regional water facility. Commissioner Dulgar reported the city has not looked into upgrading the current water treatment facility as the EPA informed the city, in the past, it was not an option. Commissioner Dulgar stated, after conferring with City Administrative Assistant Rudy Witsman and Mayor Hudson, he will be contacting the EPA to do a report again to show in writing that either it is not feasible for the city to upgrade the current water facility or if it is feasible what needs to be done to be EPA compliant.
Commissioner Rod Rodriguez – Fire, Health & Safety, Garbage, City Hall and Civil Defense
Commissioner Rodriguez announced the Guns and Hoses event will be held on Sunday, March 11th beginning at 12:45 with the proceeds being donated to the Wabash County Senior Citizens Center.
Commissioner Rodriguez stated April 2nd through April 6th will the Spring Fix-Up/ Clean-Up Week. Commissioner Rodriguez reminded residents if mattresses are put out for pick up they have to be completely covered with plastic and Republic Services will not pick up electronics.
Commissioner Rodriguez reported the fire department had three runs in the last two weeks and will be conducting CPR training.
City Administrative Assistant – Rudy Witsman
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported he had a meeting with Greater Wabash Regional Planning Committee Representative Sara Mann regarding the city’s revolving loan fund. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated Ms. Mann is in contact with the State of Illinois trying to receive some clarification on the rules and regulations on how the remaining monies from the fund can be used. City Administrative Assistant Witsman will report to the council once he confers with Ms. Mann again and at that time will present the projects that could possibly be done.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated the MCHS Prom Committee through Commissioner Judge has approached him regarding the use of the community room for prom this year. City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported the committee thought they had another facility booked and there was an oversite with that facility being double booked. City Administrative Assistant WItsman stated the committee is aware that there are a few things that need to be “dressed up” in the community room and they are willing to do whatever needs to be done to make it serviceable for the prom on May 5th. City Administrative Assistant Witsman emphasized allowing the use of the facility for prom is for an emergency situation only and it would not be reopened for any other purpose. After council discussion, it was decided to allow the use of the facility for the prom event only, based on approval from the fire chief.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated over the weekend there were several complaints through various media sites regarding the heavy rains and the flooding. City Administrative Assistant Witsman emphasized the public needs to realize the storm over the weekend was a major storm and sometimes people have to step up to help themselves. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated the city has a limited number of employees and those employees were out trying to clean the street intakes. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stressed it would help the community greatly if residents would step up and try to help out in anyway they can; especially in emergency type situations that occurred over the weekend. City Administrative Assistant Witsman asked residents to please bear with the city and have patience.
City Attorney – Kelli Storckman
City Attorney Storckman no report.
City Inspector – Mike Gidcumb
City Inspector Gidcumb absent.
Business Motions
Commissioner Dulgar motioned and Commissioner Judge motioned to allow Mount Carmel High School to use the City Hall Community Room for the Junior/Senior Prom. Approval is contingent upon approval of the fire chief. All present voted Aye by roll call vote. Commissioner Ikemire was absent.
Mayor Hudson and the Council approved the Consent Agenda, as presented in the agenda dated February 26, 2018. The consent agenda includes approval of the minutes for the council meeting held on February 12th , 2018 and approval of paying all bills bearing the proper signatures.
Meeting adjourned at 5:28 p.m.
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