City of Mount Carmel City Council met April 9.
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 Jay Dee, who addressed the council regarding the organization of “Adopt a Spot”, a fundraising event to repair and fix the brick laden Cherry Street. Mr. Dee proposed that his company Dee Drilling would donate the concrete to fix a “bad spot” on Cherry Street; the street department could pour the concrete in preparation of the brick laying and Tim Wiser of Wiser Landscapes will do the “placement” of the new bricks. Mr. Dee challenged others to donate for the repairing of other “bad spots” along the deteriorating Cherry Street, which would help improve one of the City of Mount Carmel’s historical assets.
Mayor Hudson reminded citizens this Saturday, April 14th the Mount Carmel Rotary Club and volunteers will have the city-wide clean-up event from 8:00 am to 11:00 am. Anyone wishing to participate should meet at city hall that morning.
Mayor Hudson reported applications are available for swimming pool employment at city hall and may be picked up Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Mayor Hudson stated the completed applications should be returned by Monday, April 30th.
Mayor Hudson announced plans are in the making for a “Tyra Buss” Day and he is coordinating the event date with Tyra and her family.
Mayor Hudson reminded the community that the Ribberfest Event will be held on Friday, April 27th and Saturday, April 28th. Mayor Hudson reported one of the first of the many Bi-Centennial Celebrations this year, will also be held during Ribberfest.
Mayor Hudson complimented the many volunteers that help with various projects in the community. Mayor Hudson stated he wished to publicly thank everyone who contributes monetarily and/or physically and emphasized their efforts are very much appreciated.
Mayor Hudson announced the Mount Carmel CEO program will be having its annual trade show on Monday, April 23rd.
Mayor Hudson reported the dwellings located at 615 N. Cherry Street and 203 S. Mulberry Street had been demolished. Mayor Hudson acknowledged City Administrative Assistant Witsman, who stated the land lots of those demolition sites will be leveled and seeded by the contractors once the weather cooperates.
Commissioner Reports:
Commissioner Eric Ikemire – Streets, Cemeteries And Parks:
Commissioner Ikemire reported in the last two weeks the street department filled potholes in roadways; assisted the water maintenance department with a sewer main issue; mowed parks and the ball parks; performed maintenance on street department equipment; cleaned intakes; jetted out a storm sewer and worked on the storm sewer at Second and Market Streets.
Commissioner Joe Judge – Finance And Senior Citizens:
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Judge stated this council meeting constitutes the first reading of the new fiscal budget year, Ordinance 1086. Commissioner Judge reported the general fund is projected to finish the current fiscal year with a positive amount of $26, 270.00. Commissioner Judge stated the budgets have been turned in for the 2018-2019 fiscal year and the general fund is reflecting a deficit of $148,000.00, due to the downturned revenues. Commissioner Judge reported himself; City Administrative Assistant Rudy Witsman and City Comptroller Mick Mollenhauer will be meeting with the department heads to see if any more cuts can be made. Commissioner Judge expressed his appreciation to the all department heads on their due diligence with the budgets.
Commissioner Judge reported he met with Wabash County Board Chairman Rob Dean on Friday, April 6th regarding animal control. Commissioner Judge stated the city currently provides $6000.00 from the general fund, per year for animal control. Commissioner Judge reported the Wabash County Board is requesting the city increase its contribution for animal control to $10,000.00, per year. Commissioner Judge stated the City of Mount Carmel is the only municipality within Wabash County that contributes to animal control with none of the villages contributing. Commissioner Judge acknowledged City Administrative Assistant Rudy Witsman, who concurred that on average a majority of the animal control calls are made within the city limits; however, the city is already making a fair contribution for the animal control service. After discussing the issue, the council decided to table a decision until the next council meeting.
Commissioner Justin Dulgar – Water And Sewer:
Commissioner Dulgar reported the water maintenance department is still running two levee stations due to the high flood level; and the water tower at Risley Avenue is still being cleaned with four to six weeks left with that tower’s renovation and painting.
Commissioner Dulgar stated the first pass of the water budget is complete.
Commissioner Dulgar reported the water maintenance department will be doing a sewer smoke test in the areas of North and South Drive towards Illinois State Highway One, the Church of Christ Lift Station, and the Easy Street area as there has been some sewer issues especially after heavy rains. Commissioner Dulgar stated a pink tag with instructions will be hung on the doors of residents in the affected areas. Commissioner Dulgar gave an overview of the smoke test procedures and stated the media will be notified as well when the tests are being conducted.
Commissioner Dulgar stated the bid document has been released for the wastewater plants’ aeriation project and outfall project with the bid opening to be held on May 15th. Commissioner Dulgar reported the wastewater plant is considering the purchase of a dump truck as the current one is repeatedly in the shop for repairs. Commissioner Dulgar reported Wastewater Plant employee Stephen Roe will attend the wastewater short school at the end of May. Commissioner Dulgar stated the semiannual metals discharge results have been submitted to the IEPA and the primary clarifiers are back in service after the tank flooding, due to the excessive flow from the all rain events.
Commissioner Rod Rodriguez – Fire, Health & Safety, Garbage, City Hall And Civil Defense:
Commissioner Rodriguez reported the fire department had eight runs in the last two weeks; on April 3rd lightning struck the antenna on the back of the fire station and all communications were lost for the day.
Commissioner Rodriguez stated the Fix-Up/Clean-Up Week went well with very few complaints.
Commissioner Rodriguez stressed the citizens should please stay off the levee.
City Administrative Assistant – Rudy Witsman:
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reiterated the individuals should stay off the levees and violators are subject to a fine if they are found out the levees. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated the levees are soft due to all the rains and can be easily damaged.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported the required fiscal budget hearing will be held Monday, April 23rd at 4:45 pm, prior to the regularly scheduled council meeting.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman acknowledged Dave Dallas, who was in attendance to discuss the annual chip/seal program and the MFT funding for the allocated city streets. Mr. Dallas stated the estimated maintenance cost for 2018-2019 fiscal year is $216,934.00 with the breakdown of the costs being $6000.00 for traffic lights; $12,900.00 for bituminous patching; $21,500.00 for street sweeping; and $89,225.00 the chip/seal program; $71,000.00 for the milling and resurfacing of the streets. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated the resolution Mr. Dallas reported on for those expenditures is included within the consent agenda. City Administrative Assistant Witsman acknowledged Mr. Dallas regarding FAU money for the paving project on Oak Street from West Third Street to College Drive. Mr. Dallas explained he had been in contact with the State of Illinois regarding that street paving and the state requested the project be put off until March of 2019, due to the current financial status of the State of Illinois.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman gave an overview of the consent agenda and reported Ordinance 1085 repeals Ordinance 548, which is an ordinance regarding the city employee’s personnel policy that had become outdated. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated instead of creating a new ordinance for future personnel policies, Resolution R-637 has been adapted. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated the city expended monies for the East Fifth Street Project greater than the amount originally approved by resolution. City Administrative Assistant Witsman explained Resolution R-638 is the necessary “paperwork” to allow the extra expenditure even though that bill has been paid. City Administrative Assistant reiterated these items are included within the consent agenda as well as Resolution R-639, which was reported on by Dave Dallas.
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 April 9th, 2018. The consent agenda includes Ordinance 1085, Repealing Ordinance 548; Resolution R-637, Personnel Policy; Resolution R-638, MFT Spending Approval for MFT Audit; Resolution R- 639, Approval for MFT Spending FY 2018-2019; approval of the minutes for the council meeting held on March 26th, 2018 and approval of paying all bills bearing the proper signatures.
Meeting adjourned 5:43 p.m.
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