City of Mount Carmel City Council met May 21.
Here is the minutes as provided by the council:
Invocation was given by Becky Reeves.
Present on Roll Call: Mayor Bill Hudson Commissioners – Eric Ikemire, Joe Judge,
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 congratulated all the area graduates from eighth grade, high school, college and
wished them well on all their endeavors.
Mayor Hudson reported a free swim will be held on Memorial Day, May 28th at the swimming pool
from 1:00 to 4:00 pm and due to school still being in session, the opening day for the season will be
Friday, June 1st
.Mayor Hudson announced the Holly Brook development has begun with the excavating work
starting last week and the construction crew will begin working the end of this week or the beginning
of next week.
Mayor Hudson stated area schools will be out for the summer by June 1st and asked residents to be
careful of the children playing at the playgrounds, running the streets, etc.
Mayor Hudson asked residents to please keep their grass mowed and to please not blow the grass
clippings into the street. Mayor Hudson also asked residents to eliminate areas with standing water
to help in alleviating the mosquito problem.
Mayor Hudson stated the city dump site will be closed Saturday, May 26th and Monday, May 28th in
observance of the Memorial Day Holiday, however it will be open on Tuesday, May 29th from 7:30
am to 3:30 pm.
Mayor Hudson reiterated the VFW Ladies Auxiliary will be conducting its annual “Poppy Day” event
on Saturday, May 26th at the designated street intersections.
Commissioner Reports:
Commissioner Eric Ikemire – Streets, Cemeteries and Parks
Commissioner Ikemire reported in the last two weeks the street department worked on filling
potholes; mowed parks, ball parks and city properties; cleaned intakes; cut down and cleaned up
trees throughout the city; hauled dirt from the Holly Brook construction site to a city property; worked
on storm sewer at Second and Market Streets; and replaced the air tank on the bucket truck.
Commissioner Ikemire thanked the Holly Brook Developers for donating the dirt from its construction
site to the city.
Commissioner Joe Judge – Finance and Senior Citizens
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Judge reported in 2017 the Wabash County Senior Citizens served 22,249 meals
and the attendance for the first four months of 2018 has increased with 7223 meals being served.
Commissioner Judge stated the center greatly appreciates everyone coming in to get a good meal
and utilizing the facility.
Commissioner Justin Dulgar – Water and Sewer
Commissioner Dulgar absent.
Commissioner Rod Rodriguez – Fire, Health & Safety, Garbage, City Hall and
Civil Defense
Commissioner Rodriguez reported in the last two weeks the fire department had twelve runs and
held two meetings.
Commissioner Rodriguez announced the mosquito spraying for the summer has starting today.
Commissioner Rodriguez stated the West Side of the city will be sprayed on Sunday, Monday and
Tuesday with the East Side being sprayed on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
City Administrative Assistant – Rudy Witsman
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported three bids were received for the wastewater
treatment plant aeriation project; the low bid was $933,000.00 from Midwest Petroleum and
Excavating from Benton, Illinois; the second bid was from Kieffer Brothers Construction in the
amount of $1,033,928.00 and the third bid was DeBra-Kuempel Incorporated from Evansville,
Indiana for the amount of $1,239,525.00. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated one bid was
received for the wastewater plant’s effluent relocation, which is the discharge line that goes to the
river, with the amount being $378,845.00 from Kieffer Brothers Construction. City Administrative
Assistant Witsman reported the bids were reviewed by Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, formerly
Lamac Engineering, and have advised the city that the low bids for each of the projects are
acceptable.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman presented to the council a recommendation from the zoning
board for a special use permit to allow a mobile home to remain at 710 West Sixth Street. City
Administrative Assistant Witsman stated Thomas Gidcumb purchased the mobile home as well as
the lot and has fixed up the residence very nicely.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman read a statement from Commissioner Dulgar, who was
absent, regarding the City of Mount Carmel and the Wabash Regional Water Commission.
Commissioner Dulgar stated at the next meeting he would like to recommend that the City of Mount
Carmel withdraw from the commission. City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported he had
prepared Ordinance 1062 – Repealing the Water Commission and stated this meeting constitutes
the first reading of the ordinance. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated the ordinance will be
presented at the next meeting for council approval, when Commissioner Dulgar will be in
attendance.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman presented to the council for approval an increase for the 2018
Swimming Pool Fees; general admission is $3.50, the punch pass is $36.00, and rental for parties is
$175.00. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated the pool hours will remain the same: 12:30 to
5:00 – Monday, Wednesday, Friday; 12:30 to 8:00 – Tuesday and Thursday; 1:00 to 5:00 –
Saturday and Sunday; rental for pool parties is Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
after 6:00 pm. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated the pool fees needed to be increased
due to some unexpected expenses this year between the amount of $8000.00 and $9000.00. City
Administrative Assistant Witsman acknowledged Commissioner Ikemire, who suggested increasing
the Saturday morning hours at the pool and the council decided to take the suggestion under
advisement.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated TIF 3 is due to expire next year and he has been in
contact with Moran Development, who had prepared the city’s last TIF Agreement. City
Administrative Assistant Witsman stated Mr. Moran has proposed to prepare the TIF agreement for
the same costs as two years ago. City Administrative Assistant Witsman asked for council approval
for the contract to be executed with Moran Development in the amount of $26,900.00 with expenses
not to exceed $2000.00.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman announced the bid opening for the chip/seal program is
scheduled for May 30th at 11:00 am at city hall.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported he has received notification from the Illinois
Department of Transportation regarding the city’s application for the Illinois Transportation
Enhancement Program and unfortunately the city was not selected to receive that grant funding.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reiterated the program was for the replacement/improvement
of the street lights and sidewalks along Market Street. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated
the monies will now come out of the TIF Program and the street department will continue on with
those improvements sometime this summer or late fall.
City Attorney – Kelli Storckman
City Attorney Storckman presented to the council Ordinance 833 – Fire Department Cost Recovery
Program, which amends the current ordinance. City Attorney Storckman stated this meeting
constitutes the first reading of the ordinance.
City Inspector – Mike Gidcumb
City Inspector Gidcumb absent.
Business Motions
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Rodriguez seconded to approve the Zoning
Board’s recommendation to approve the Special Use for Thomas Gidcumb to keep a mobile home
on the lot at 710 West Sixth Street. All present voted Aye by roll call vote. Commissioner Dulgar was
absent.
Commissioner Judge motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to approve the low bid
received from Midwest Petroleum & Excavating in the amount of $933,000.00 for the sewer plant
upgrades. All present voted Aye by roll call vote. Commissioner Dulgar was absent.
Commissioner Rodriguez motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to approve the low bid
received from Kieffer Brothers Construction in the amount of $378,845.00 for relocation of sewer
plant effluent line. All present voted Aye by roll call vote. Commissioner Dulgar was absent.
Mayor Hudson and the Council approved the Consent Agenda, as presented in the agenda dated
May 21st, 2018. The consent agenda includes approval of the minutes for the council meeting held
on May 7th, 2018 and approval of paying all bills bearing the proper signatures.
http://cityofmtcarmel.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/05-21-18.pdf
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