City of Mount Carmel City Council met Monday, March 12.
Here is the minutes provided by council:
Mayor's Comments
Mayor Hudson brought the city council meeting to order.
Mayor Hudson acknowledged Terry Beckerman, who was seeking council approval for the Nineteenth Annual Ribberfest Event, which is to be held on April 27th and 28th . Mr. Beckerman asked permission to close the 300 and 400 blocks of Market Street, as well as the intersection of Fourth and Market Streets, on Friday, April 27th at 11:00 am. Mr. Beckerman also requested that Third and Market Street intersection as well as East Third Street to Cherry Street be closed later Friday evening for the Kiwanis’ Downhill Derby Race Event, which will be held on Saturday, April 28th . Mr. Beckerman stated donations from the event will made to the Wabash County Senior Citizens Center.
Mayor Hudson announced the Wabash Valley College Theatre Event “Over There” will be held this coming week with performances being held Thursday, March 15th through Sunday, March 18th . Mayor Hudson stated the show depicts the hundredth anniversary of World War I and he encouraged citizens to attend one of the performances.
Mayor Hudson reported all 10.08 acres for the Villas of Holly Brook Development have been surveyed and construction should begin soon.
Mayor Hudson thanked Commissioner Rodriguez for his efforts with the Guns and Hoses event; especially for the donation from the event proceeds to the Wabash County Senior Citizens Center. Mayor Hudson acknowledged Commissioner Rodriguez, who presented the check to Finance Commissioner Judge in the amount $1622.00.
Mayor Hudson announced the Mount Carmel Rotary Club will be having a pancake supper fundraising event on Thursday, March 22nd from 4:30 pm until 6:30 pm at the Wabash County Senior Citizens Center.
Mayor Hudson reported on Saturday, April 14th the Mount Carmel Rotary Club is sponsoring a citywide clean-up day from 8:00 am to 11:00 am. Mayor Hudson stated all interested volunteers should meet at the city hall parking lot that morning.
Commissioner Reports:
Commissioner Eric Ikemire – Streets, Cemeteries And Parks
Commissioner Ikemire reported in the last two weeks the street department assisted the water maintenance department with the jetting of the sanitary sewer at Evergreen Lane; continued filling pot holes on city roadways; cleaned up stump grinding throughout the city; repaired concrete guttering and sidewalk from a water main break at West Fourth and Division Streets; began getting the city parks ready for spring; started maintenance on the girls’ softball field and worked on the “electrical” at the street department garage.
Commissioner Joe Judge – Finance And Senior Citizens
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Judge stated he had attended the Illinois Rural Economic Development Meeting in Springfield and he will be meeting with Mayor Hudson, the Commissioners, City Administrative Assistant Rudy Witsman and City Comptroller Mick Mollenhauer regarding what information could be beneficial for the city and the community.
Commissioner Judge reported as of March 1st , all of the departments are below budget. Commissioner Judge thanked the departments for staying below their budgets. Commissioner Judge stated the 2018 -2019 budgets will be reviewed and work on the new budget will begin soon
Commissioner Judge reiterated the Mount Carmel Rotary Club and the Wabash County Health Department are sponsoring a citywide clean-up day on Saturday, April 14th . Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Indiana will be providing gloves, trash sticks, and garbage bags.
Commissioner Judge thanked Commissioner Rodriguez and everyone who helped with the Guns and Hoses Event and for the generous donation to the Wabash County Senior Citizens Center.
Commissioner Justin Dulgar – Water And Sewer
Commissioner Dulgar reported the Wabash Valley Regional Water Commission is at a tipping point and a public hearing will be held in April in the City of Mount Carmel. Commissioner Dulgar stated the Cities of Grayville and Albion as well as the Village of Keensburg are required to also have public hearings. Commissioner Dulgar encouraged the area residents to please attend the hearings as the entire water commission board is required to attend each of the individual hearings to answer questions and explain about the regional water treatment plant. Commissioner Dulgar gave an overview of the City of Mount Carmel’s Water Treatment Facility by stating it was built in the 1930’s and has been upgraded throughout the many years of service with the last upgrade being in 1990; when the water supply source was changed from river water to well water. Commissioner Dulgar explained the EPA does conduct evaluations every two to three years with the last evaluation being in 2015. Commissioner Dulgar reiterated the time is nearing for a decision to be made regarding a regional water treatment facility. Commissioner Dulgar stated there are four options that the City of Mount Carmel may consider: a new regional water treatment facility with no debt to the city except the purchasing of water from the regional water commission; the city could build its own new facility with an approximate debt of eight million dollars; the current facility could be upgraded with a projected cost of five and one half million dollars; or wait until the city is mandated by the EPA to change the water treatment process. Commissioner Dulgar emphasized there are currently no health or safety issues with city’s water supply. He also reminded everyone a new water treatment facility would not include fixing the city’s aging water lines. Commissioner Dulgar stated it is important to have a plan of action in place for economic growth as the city looks toward the future.
Commissioner Rod Rodriguez – Fire, Health & Safety, Garbage, City Hall And Civil Defense
Commissioner Rodriguez thanked Scott McCallen and Tim Wachs for their efforts as well as all the other volunteers, who helped make the Guns and Hoses Event a success.
Commissioner Rodriguez stated April 2nd through April 6th is 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. Commissioner Rodriguez reported Republic Services will not pick up electronics, televisions, appliances or construction material, etc. Commissioner Rodriguez emphasized if the items that residents put out are not picked up by Republic Services; it is their responsibility to dispose of those items properly themselves.
City Administrative Assistant – Rudy Witsman
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reiterated the State of Illinois had discontinued the Revolving Loan Program and he had recently attended a meeting regarding the options for the remaining funds in the city’s “loan” account. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated the city is allowed to use the funds for up to two projects and currently has $356,000.00 available in the account with approximately $39,000.00 in outstanding balances. City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported the city can “purchase” those outstanding balances by borrowing the monies from the City’s General Fund, which would increase the amount of the Revolving Loan Program. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated the general fund would then be paid back as the outstanding balances are paid back to the city. City Administrative Assistant Witsman asked the council to take the issue of purchasing the outstanding balances under consideration, as he would like a decision at the next meeting. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated a project for consideration for the program, would be the placement of a sidewalk along Oak Street from West Third Street to West Ninth Street.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman stressed to residents to please wrap the mattresses they put out for the upcoming Fix-Up/Clean-Up Week, as several mattresses that were not wrapped in plastic during the Fall Fix-Up/Clean-Up Week are still laying out and they will not be picked up by Republic Services.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported he received an email today from the Villas of Holly Brook Developers providing a preliminary plat of the development area for review and hopefully within the next two weeks, he will present a finalized plat for council approval.
City Attorney – Kelli Storckman
City Attorney Storckman no report.
City Inspector – Mike Gidcumb
City Inspector Gidcumb absent.
Business Motions
Mayor Hudson and the Council approved the Consent Agenda, as presented in the agenda dated March 12th, 2018. The consent agenda includes approval of the minutes for the council meeting held on February 26th, 2018 and approval of paying all bills bearing the proper signatures.
Meeting adjourned at 5:29 p.m.
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