City of Mount Carmel City Council met September 24.
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 and City Attorney Kelli Storckman.
Mayor’s Comments:
Mayor Hudson brought the city council meeting to order.
Mayor Hudson acknowledged Wabash Emergency Management Agency Co-Ordinator Gerald Brooks, who presented a Certificate of Accreditation for Storm Ready Status from the National Weather Service to the council. Mr. Brooks stated a community must achieve a specific level of hazardous weather operations readiness in order to be accredited as Storm Ready and Wabash County is one of the few counties in EMA Region Nine that is certified storm ready. Mayor Hudson thanked WEMA for the presentation and stated all the efforts by the WEMA Volunteers is greatly appreciated.
Mayor Hudson acknowledged Gail Poland with the VFW Women’s Auxiliary, who was seeking council approval for a chowder to be held outside at the VFW’s Parking Lot within a secured area on Saturday, October 20th.
Mayor Hudson acknowledged Bicentennial Committee Chairman Shawn Storckman, who presented to the council a map showing the proposed event area for the October 12th Bicentennial Celebration and asked council approval to block off Market Street from Fifth Street down to the alley in the three hundred block of Market Street next to Mount Carmel Public Utility. Secondly, Bicentennial Committee Chairman Shawn Storckman presented to the council a request to have a beer garden event overseen by the Eagle’s Club located at the lot of the former Hadley’s Building. Chairman Storckman stated the beer garden area would be secured and a police officer would be patrolling the area, as well.
Mayor Hudson acknowledged Wabash County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lesley Hipsher, who presented to the council the chamber’s event calendar and was seeking council approval for the street closures for the upcoming Chamber’s Spooktacular Fun Run Event on Saturday, October 27th as well as the Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 1st. Ms. Hipsher stated the theme for the Christmas Parade this year is “Celebrate” honoring the Bicentennial Celebration year.
Mayor Hudson stated the MCHS Homecoming Celebration this past weekend went great and the all events were very well attended. Mayor Hudson reported the Bicentennial Jubilee Concert held at the Wabash Valley College Brubeck Arts Center on Sunday was a wonderful event, as well.
Mayor Hudson reported construction of new housing and expansion of local factories is ongoing in the City of Mount Carmel. Mayor Hudson stated the Holly Brook Development project has slowed down due the weather but is still ahead of schedule.
Mayor Hudson reiterated at a prior council meeting the leaf pickup service was presented for discussion by a concerned citizen. Mayor Hudson reported the council is working on the situation and trying to come up with a compromise for the issue.
Commissioner Reports:
Commissioner Eric Ikemire – Streets, Cemeteries And Parks:
Commissioner Ikemire reported in the last two weeks the street department cleaned intakes; mowed parks and city properties; performed yard abatements; repaired storm sewers; patched holes in roadways and alleys; painted the light poles in the city parking lot in the one hundred-block of West
Fourth; performed maintenance on equipment; and ran the street sweeper. Commissioner Ikemire urged residents to please keep their yards mowed according to city ordinance.
Commissioner Ikemire announced the Kiwanis Club is sponsoring a raffle fundraiser for the Wabash County Senior Citizens Center with the raffle drawing being held on November 13th. Commissioner Ikemire stated the raffle prize is a one-week vacation at the Emerald Beach Resort at Panama City, Florida. The prize is being donated by Keith and Terri Schonert from Spring, Texas in appreciation of the generosity of the people of Wabash County during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey last year.
Commissioner Joe Judge – Finance And Senior Citizens:
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Judge stated, on behalf of the Wabash County Senior Citizens Center, he wished to thank the Kiwanis Club for picking the center to be the recipient of their fundraiser.
Commissioner Judge reported the replacement tax income receipts are currently a negative $26,873.00; the state income tax receipts are at a $784.00 negative; the sales tax receipts are at a positive $29,153.00; the state use tax is at a positive $18,881.00 with an overall positive amount of $20,367.00. Commissioner Judge stated things are turning around within the City of Mount Carmel and the overall community support is greatly appreciated. Commissioner Judge stressed the city’s revenues however, are still not what was budgeted for this fiscal year.
Commissioner Justin Dulgar – Water And Sewer:
Commissioner Dulgar reported the lead and copper water samples from the Water Treatment Plant came back with good results and the repair work at the West Third Street Tower is almost complete. Commissioner Dulgar stated the water pressure should be back to normal once the repair work is finished and the hydrants will not require activation to alleviate the back pressure.
Commissioner Dulgar stated the City of Mount Carmel is in the process of determining what is the best option regarding long-term goals of the water treatment facility. Commissioner Dulgar reported multiple options and locations have been looked at for a new water treatment facility as well as having research done for the long-term viability of the city’s water wells. Commissioner Dulgar explained this process started after the Wabash Valley Regional Water Commission project did not move forward as it is necessary to now focus on what is best for the city in the future.
Commissioner Dulgar reported the outfall project at the wastewater facility is ongoing; the equipment for the aeration project is starting to arrive at the facility and a grant is being written to hopefully assist with the sewer line project along Division Street.
Commissioner Dulgar reiterated Wabash General Hospital CEO Jay Purvis had previously attended a meeting asking for council support for the referendum that will be on the November 6th Election Ballot. Commissioner Dulgar stated the passing of the referendum would allow the hospital to own property outside Wabash County, which would contribute to the continued growth of the hospital. Commissioner Dulgar encouraged citizens to vote in favor of the referendum in the upcoming election.
Commissioner Rod Rodriguez – Fire, Health & Safety, Garbage, City Hall And Civil Defense:
Commissioner Rodriguez reported in the last two weeks the fire department had thirteen runs and had defensive driving training.
Commissioner Rodriguez announced the City-Wide Yard Sale is September 29th and Safe Haven will be having a fundraising/yard sale event at West Third and Walnut Streets.
Commissioner Rodriguez reported the Fix Up/Clean Up Week is October 1st through October 5th. Commissioner Rodriguez reminded residents to please not set out refrigerators, electronics, microwaves, paint, car batteries, or construction lumber and stated that mattresses/box springs must completely be wrapped in plastic. Commissioner Rodriguez emphasized that if items are not picked up by Republic Services it is then the resident’s responsibility to remove those items.
Commissioner Rodriguez announced a fundraiser will be held for Leslie Glenn on Tuesday, September 25th at the Heartland Worship Center Beacon Building from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm.
City Administrative Assistant – Rudy Witsman:
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reiterated the city is in the process of developing a grant application for the relining of the sewer main along Division Street. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated one of the requirements of the application is that the residents along Division Street complete a short survey therefore city employees will be knocking on the doors of those residents through the end of this month. City Administrative Assistant Witsman emphasized the importance of completing the surveys and stated that seventy-five percent participation by the residents in that area is needed in order to submit the grant application. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated the grant money, if awarded, is free money that comes back to the community and can be used to improve infrastructure.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported certified notices will be mailed out on Tuesday, September 25th to citizens that live within the proposed new TIF area and the notices state that a public hearing will be held at city hall on October 22nd at 4:30 pm. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated anyone with questions or concerns should attend the meeting.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reiterated a final approved construction plan for the stop signs at the intersections along Market Street had been tabled at a prior council meeting. City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported he had spoken with Pat Gould at HLR regarding the turning radius feasibility if a second island is installed on the opposite side of the stop sign. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated concerns have arisen that the design could create a hindrance for semi-truck drivers trying to make the turns at the intersections. City Administrative Assistant Witsman reiterated the possibility of having lighted bollards was discussed and stated that lighting would have to come from the existing light poles and the current asphalt will have to be dug up to run the electrical line to those poles. City Administrative Assistant Witsman recommended to the council that the islands with the stop signs be put up first at the proper locations; to not put in the second island on the opposite sides yet and to not put in the new lighted bollards. City Administrative Assistant Witsman emphasized to the council that a decision needs to be made and a plan put in place for those intersections.
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 September 24th, 2018. The consent agenda includes approval of the minutes for the council meeting held on September 10th, 2018 and approval of paying all bills bearing the proper signatures.
Meeting adjourned 5:35 p.m.
http://cityofmtcarmel.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/09-24-18.pdf
Alerts Sign-up