City of Mount Carmel City Council met July 30.
Here is the minutes provided by the Council:
Invocation was given by Becky Reeves.
Present on Roll Call: Commissioners – Eric Ikemire, Joe Judge, Rod Rodriguez
Also, Present: City Administrative Assistant Rudy Witsman, City Attorney Kelli Storckman
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Hudson absent. City Administrative Assistant Rudy Witsman stated to due to the absence of Mayor Hudson and according to city ordinance the finance commissioner, which is Commissioner Joe Judge, will be the acting mayor for this council meeting.
Commissioner Judge brought the city council meeting to order.
Commissioner Judge acknowledged Wabash County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lesley Hipsher, who was in attendance to request the street closures for the Ag Days Festival, August 1st through August 4th. Ms. Hipsher stated the set up for the festival will begin on Tuesday, July 31st and asked for the street closure to begin at 2:00 pm.
Commissioner Judge gave out a friendly reminder, on behalf of Mayor Hudson and the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce, for the safety of the public; bicycles, skateboards, dogs/animals are not allowed at the Ag Days Festival. Commissioner Judge stated, per Mayor Hudson, everyone’s cooperation is greatly appreciated, as the festival is a family and kid friendly event and safety is the number one priority.
Commissioner Judge reported Cherry Street is back open and gave a special thanks to Jay Dee, Tim Wiser of Wiser Landscaping, the City of Mount Carmel’s Street Department and everyone else who assisted with the “Adopt a Spot” project in the eight hundred block of Cherry Street.
Commissioner Judge welcomed everyone to attend Ag Days and stated it is a fun filled event.
Commissioner Judge gave a special thank you for all the calls and cards he received since the recent passing of his mother.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS:
COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS
Commissioner Ikemire reported in the last two weeks the street department mowed parks, ballparks and the levee; cleaned intakes; performed yard abatements; worked on patching the streets in preparedness for the chip/seal program; trimmed low lying limbs; repaired various pieces of equipment and did some weed-killer spraying around the levee approaches as well as on the streets that were to be chip /sealed. Commissioner Ikemire stated the chip/seal process is scheduled for August 13th and August 14th with the fog seal process for the same areas being done on August 22nd and 23rd. Street Department Superintendent Dave Easter was acknowledged and he stated the dates for the chip/seal program are tentative dates and could be changed at the last minute.
COMMISSIONER JOE JUDGE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Judge reiterated a grant had been submitted to Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana (TMMI) for the WC Cafeteria and Senior Center. Commissioner Judge reported TMMI asked that the grant be rewritten and resubmitted. Commissioner Judge stated he is in hopes the center will be awarded a possible $50,000 grant, after the resubmission. Commissioner Judge reported the State of Illinois and the federal government are approximately a month and a half behind on the payments to the senior center.
Commissioner Judge stated the Mount Carmel Police Department as well as the Wabash County Sheriff’s Department will do safety checks on houses whenever a resident is on vacation. Commissioner Judge encouraged citizens to utilize this service by signing up at the police and/or sheriff’s department.
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 six runs; a training session was held on how to draft water from various types of equipment when there are no available fire hydrants; the fire department raised its flag in honor of the former Mount Carmel Police Office Dick Tisdale, who recently passed away; and attended the demolition derby, as first responders, which was held at the Wabash County 4-H Fairgrounds.
Commissioner Rodriguez stated the Ag Days Festival is approaching and asked citizens to please not park in front of the fire hydrants in the event of an emergency. Fire Chief Frances Speth was acknowledged and he reiterated the “no parking” by the fire hydrants during Ag Days as well as reminding that enough space should be keep open on Market Street so the fire truck can get through, in case of an emergency. Fire Chief Speth stressed anyone burning a camp fire to please be sure to extinguish the fire when not in use.
CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RUDY WITSMAN
City Administrative Assistant Witsman announced the last day for the Mount Carmel Swimming Pool to be open is Sunday, August 12th and the Dog Swim will be on Monday, August 13th. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated the pool has to close when school is back in session, as it is a requirement to have an adequate number of lifeguards on duty and the lifeguards will be back in school.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported within the consent agenda is the ditch ordinance as well as the ordinance providing for the regulation and application for small wireless facilities. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated a similar small wireless ordinance was recently passed by Wabash County and it gives some control over allowing companies to install small wireless boxes along right of ways. City Administrative Assistant Witsman asked the council to waive the second reading of the small wireless facilities ordinance.
CITY ATTORNEY – KELLI STORCKMAN
City Attorney Storckman no report
CITY INSPECTOR – MIKE GIDCUMB
City Inspector Gidcumb absent.
BUSINESS MOTIONS
The Council approved the Consent Agenda, as presented in the agenda dated July 30th, 2018. The consent agenda included approval of Ordinance 1096A – An ordinance providing for the Regulation and Application for Small Wireless Facilities; Second Reading of Ordinance 1095 – an ordinance to regulate ditch enclosure; approval of the minutes for the council meeting held on July 16th, 2018 and approval of paying all bills bearing the proper signatures.
Meeting adjourned 5:12 p.m.
http://cityofmtcarmel.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/07-30-18.pdf
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