City of Mount Carmel City Council met Sept. 23.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
Invocation was given by Becky Reeves.
Mayor Judge brought the city council meeting to order.
Present on Roll Call: Mayor Joe Judge Commissioners - Tom Meeks, Eric Ikemire,
Justin Dulgar, Rod Rodriguez Also, Present: City Administrative Assistant Rudy Witsman, City Attorney Kelli Storckman
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mayor Judge requested a motion to approve the minutes of the last council meeting.
Commissioner Dulgar motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to approve the minutes of the meeting held on September 9th, 2019. All present voted Aye by Voice Vote.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Judge asked citizens to please do not cross the barriers at the Vintage Collections building located at 338 N. Market Street as well as the Merchants Park area. Mayor Judge stated the area is blocked off for the safety of the public and everyone’s cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Mayor Judge reported he was in Chicago last week attending seminars regarding various topics the State of Illinois is changing. Mayor Judge stated the recreational cannabis was discussed, which is a topic the city will have to address in the near future. Mayor Judge reported he received some good information that could be beneficial to the City of Mount Carmel. Mayor Judge announced he has been elected to the Illinois Municipal League Board of Directors to represent the southern district and will be the vice president of the board for the next four years. Mayor Judge stated IML is a group of thirty-eight mayors representing three districts throughout the State of Illinois. Mayor Judge reported there is a total of eleven hundred twenty mayors and/or village presidents in the State of Illinois. Mayor Judge stated the IML is a statewide advocacy and educational organization, whose special interests are the people, so in turn municipalities have a powerful resource as well as a powerful voice in state and federal issues. Mayor Judge affirmed the City of Mount Carmel has used the IML several times to fight to keep the enterprise zones as well as helping with the growth of the city.
Mayor Judge asked for everyone’s prayers for former Mayor George Woodcock, whose health is suffering. Mayor Judge extended prayers to Mr. Woodcock and his family.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS:
COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS
Commissioner Meeks reported in the last two weeks the street department continued to mow the parks and city properties; patched potholes; replaced the yield signs with stop signs and put up new stop signs in certain areas of the city; built a storm sewer collection box on Miskell Road; sprayed for weeds on the levee approaches; tilled and seeded ruts at Lincoln Park and at the Inner City Football Field.
COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Ikemire reported the general fund received $179,000 in the past two weeks and the overall budget is doing well. Commissioner Ikemire noted the sales tax receipts as well as the state income tax revenues are up significantly from the past few years.
COMMISSIONER JUSTIN DULGAR – WATER AND SEWER
Commissioner Dulgar reported the water treatment plant cleaned the sediment basins as part of the bi-monthly routine maintenance and a new switch will be installed at the Oak Street booster station next week.
Commissioner Dulgar stated the smoke testing of the sewer mains by Hydromax should be completed tomorrow. Commissioner Dulgar reiterated the testing was conducted in the same areas that was previously tested by the water/sewer maintenance department last year, however Hydromax’s testing is more extensive. Commissioner Dulgar stated he will report on the smoke testing once the test results are received back from Hydromax.
Commissioner Dulgar reported each of the council members has been presented with a copy of the new water treatment plant feasibility study to take under advisement and stated any questions or concerns will be addressed by himself. Commissioner Dulgar stated he will be presenting, for discussion, the possibility of a new water treatment plant at a council meeting in the near future.
COMMISSIONER ROD RODRIGUEZ – FIRE, HEALTH & SAFETY, GARBAGE, CITY HALL AND CIVIL DEFENSE
Commissioner Rodriguez reported in the last two weeks the fire department had ten runs and a safety meeting will be held this evening with “burnout” training being held at Southgate with Aaron Brown as the trainer.
Commissioner Rodriguez announced the Wicked Wheels Car Show will be held on Saturday, September 28th at Wabash Valley College with the proceeds going to the Shop with a Cop/Fireman Program for Christmas.
Commissioner Rodriguez reiterated the Fall Fix-Up/Clean-Up week is September 30th through October 4th. Commissioner Rodriguez reminded residents that mattresses and box springs have to be completely wrapped in plastic or Republic Services will not pick them up. Commissioner Rodriguez stated construction material, electronics, televisions, microwaves, refrigerators, and stoves are some of the items that will not be picked up. Commissioner Rodriguez affirmed that if items are not picked up during the clean-up week it is the resident’s responsibility to then remove the items.
CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RUDY WITSMAN
City Administrative Assistant Witsman presented to the council for approval two raffle request applications. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated one of the requests is for the benefit of the Wabash General Hospital Foundation scholarship program and the other request is for the benefit of a local charity. Danielle Stevens was in attendance for the Wabash General Hospital Foundation and stated the foundation is raffling a 2020 golf cart that meets all the requirements for the city’s proposed golf cart ordinance. Ms. Stevens stated proceeds from the hospital’s raffles are donated to different charities in the area.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated this council meeting constitutes the second reading of Ordinance 2020 – authorizing non-highway vehicles on city streets. City Administrative Assistant Witsman reiterated at the previous council a discussion was held regarding the intersections allowing crossings on state highways. City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported those intersections listed within the ordinance are as follows: Easy Street and Evergreen Lane, which intersects with Cherry Street (Illinois Highway One); East Thirteen Street and Cherry Street (Illinois Highway One); West Fifth Street and Walnut Street (Illinois Highway One) and Fifteen); Market Street and Ninth Street (Illinois Highway One and Fifteen); Poplar Street and West Third Street (Illinois Highway One); Oak Street and West Ninth Street (Illinois Highway Fifteen). City Administrative Assistant Witsman acknowledged Mayor Judge, who reaffirmed the aforementioned intersections are only those that cross a state highway, per State of Illinois requirements and stated the non-highway vehicles may cross anywhere else within the city limits. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated the penalty for any violation of the ordinance needs to be addressed and after council discussion with input by City Attorney Kelli Storckman as well as Police Chief Ryan Turner; it was decided to vote on the ordinance with the understanding there are changes that need to be made in regard to the penalties and the “permit stickers”. City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported the “permit stickers” for the non-highway vehicles are not available yet and the ordinance will not go into effect until December 1, 2019.
CITY ATTORNEY – KELLI STORCKMAN
City Attorney Storckman no report.
CITY INSPECTOR – MIKE GIDCUMB
City Inspector Gidcumb absent.
STREET DEPARTMENT SUPERINTENDENT – DAVE EASTER
Street Department Superintendent Dave Easter absent.
POLICE CHIEF – RYAN TURNER
Police Chief Turner no report.
FIRE CHIEF – FRANCES SPETH
Fire Chief Speth reminded residents that burning is not allowed in the city limits and encouraged residents to use the city’s dump site to dispose of construction material instead of burning.
Fire Chief Speth stated the fire department is accepting applications until October 11th for a full-time firefighter position and applications may be picked up at city hall.
BUSINESS MOTIONS
Commissioner Meeks motioned and Commissioner Rodriguez seconded to approve non-highway vehicles on city streets. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Dulgar seconded to pay all bills bearing the proper signatures. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 5:24 p.m.
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