City of Mt. Carmel City Council met Jan. 27.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
Invocation was given by Reverend Tony Hodgson.
Mayor Judge brought the city council meeting to order.
Present on Roll Call: Mayor Joe Judge Commissioners - Tom Meeks, Eric Ikemire, Chandler Madden
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 Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Meeks seconded to approve the minutes of the meeting held on January 13th, 2020. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Judge acknowledged Melissa Strine with the Rockets Foundation, who was seeking council approval for the eleventh annual Saint Mary’s School Mardi Gras 5K Run and Kids Fun Run Celebration on Saturday, February 29th. Ms. Strine stated the race route will be the same as the previous years. Mayor Judge advised the Mardi Gras Committee to contact the police department with the race route.
Mayor Judge stated Fire Captain Glen Markle, Jr. will be retiring after forty years of service to the Mount Carmel Fire Department. Mayor Judge thanked Glen for his service of protecting the City of Mount Carmel as well as Wabash County. Mayor Judge reported Glen has been a full-time employee as a captain at the fire house for eighteen years and served twenty-two years prior as a volunteer fire fighter. Mayor Judge wished Glen a happy retirement and best wishes.
Mayor Judge announced at the upcoming March 9th council meeting a representative from Western University will be giving a presentation regarding strategic planning and community planning. Mayor Judge stated the city intends to start strategic planning in the late summer of 2020 and move into comprehensive planning in 2020/2021. Mayor Judge reported the strategic planning will be a community driven process giving the residents a voice in how Mount Carmel is shaped in the future.
Mayor Judge reiterated State of Illinois Department of Transportation will only honor first place state athletic and academic awards or section presidents for the FFA Club by placing signs below the city/population signs on state highways. Mayor Judge reported City Administrative Assistant Rudy Witsman and himself have worked out an agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation to honor second and third place teams or individuals. Mayor Judge stated those signs will be placed next to the “Welcome to Mount Carmel” sign on outer North Cherry Street and the first sign to be hung will honor the 2019/2020 Lady Aces Golf Team, who placed second in the state tournament. Mayor Judge expressed his appreciation and is pleased that the Illinois Department of Transportation is working with the city to make this possible.
Mayor Judge reported he has tasked the street department with the making of the speed sign the Mount Carmel Rotary Club donated a few years ago mobile. Mayor Judge stated the street department is assembling a trailer for the mounting of the sign in order for it to be mobile for better assistance to the police department.
Mayor Judge acknowledged employee Art Kimmel, who presented to the council a map for the proposed new route for the brush pick up service, as was discussed at the last meeting. Mr. Kimmel gave an overview of the map and stated the service would run only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Mayor Judge reiterated, at the last council meeting, Mr. Kimmel had also requested eliminating the picking up of brush and/or yard waste in alleyways. After council discussion and the addressing of questions/concerns, the new brush route schedule and the elimination of alleyway pickup were approved by council vote. City Administrative Assistant Witsman affirmed the starting date for the changes to the service will be February 10th, to allow residents time to adjust to the program changes.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS:
COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS
Commissioner Meeks reported in the last two weeks the street department cut tree stumps down to ground level; trimmed low lying tree limbs; continued to patch potholes in streets and alleyways; repaired a storm sewer inlet at Chestnut Street; installed a telescopic crane on one of the pickup trucks; and serviced the skid steer.
COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Ikemire stated the WC Cafeteria and Senior Center has had some staffing issues and thanked Tracy Dunkel as well as the employees for their efforts in keeping up with all the duties at the center.
Commissioner Ikemire reported the year to date receipts for the general fund are at eighty-seven percent of the budget with the city being nine months into the fiscal year. Commissioner Ikemire stated the city is doing well so far on the collecting of its funds and is running ahead of schedule.
COMMISSIONER JUSTIN DULGAR – WATER AND SEWER
Commissioner Dulgar absent.
COMMISSIONER CHANDLER MADDEN – FIRE, HEALTH & SAFETY, GARBAGE, CITY HALL AND CIVIL DEFENSE
Commissioner Madden reported in the last two weeks the fire department responded to ten runs; firefighters met for training at the fire station; and a regular scheduled meeting will be held tonight at the fire station at 6:00 pm.
Commissioner Madden reminded residents that Republic Services has a dumpster for recyclables at the city’s brush harbor on Golden Aces Way. Commissioner Madden stated residents may drop off glass, cardboard, aluminum and plastic at no charge on Monday, Friday or Saturday during the regular hours.
CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RUDY WITSMAN
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reiterated bids were requested for the mowing of the city cemeteries and were to be submitted by Thursday, January 23rd. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated four bids were received and he presented those bids to Mayor Judge for council consideration. Mayor Judge opened the bids and stated the first bid was from Tim Snelling with a bid amount of $28,000; the second bid was from Crystal Kimmel for the amount of $30,000; the third bid was for the amount of $18,100 from Eric Delong; and the fourth bid was from Kenneth Worley for the amount of $20,400. Mayor Judge stated the council will review the bids and compare them for the services to be performed. Mayor Judge reported the bids will be presented at the next meeting for council vote and approval.
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 reported he is currently working on putting together bids specs for the replacement of some storm sewers along West Third Street near the Tastee Freez down to Division Street and he is in contact with the Illinois DOT regarding the work since West Third Street is a state highway. Street Department Superintendent Easter stated that once bids are finalized the City will be seeking bids for the project.
POLICE CHIEF – RYAN TURNER
Police Chief Turner no report.
FIRE CHIEF – FRANCES SPETH
Fire Chief Speth no report.
BUSINESS MOTIONS
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Madden seconded to approve brush collection to be done on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Commissioner Meeks motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to approve the recommendation to collect brush from the streets only and discontinue alley collection. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Madden seconded to approve the Consent Agenda. The consent agenda included the paying of all bills bearing the proper signatures. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 5:17 p.m.
https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/8481/01-27-20_minutes.pdf
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