City of Mt. Carmel City Council met Aug. 24.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
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
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mayor Judge requested a motion to approve the minutes of the last council meeting.
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Madden seconded to approve the minutes of the meeting held on August 10th, 2020. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Judge announced the Mount Carmel Rotary Club will be heading up a fundraising project to assist with the building of a new shelter house and restrooms at the city park. Mayor Judge stated everyone’s donations and support would be greatly appreciated.
Mayor Judge reminded citizens to please check in with city hall before planning any events uptown on Market Street; at any of the city parks and/or other city properties to ensure all the guidelines are being followed as well as to submit the required proof of insurance. Mayor Judge stated everyone’s cooperation is very much appreciated.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS:
COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS
Commissioner Meeks reiterated at the last council meeting Mary Miller was in attendance to introduce herself as she is running for congress in the Illinois 15th Congressional District. Commissioner Meeks stated Ms. Miller commented on the “Joe Biden” signs she saw in town and in rebuttal Commissioner Meeks jokingly said he would take care of them later that night. Commissioner Meeks apologized to the council as well as the community for his remarks at that council meeting and affirmed that his intent was not to offend anyone.
Commissioner Meeks reported in the last two weeks the street department cut down trees at the city park; continued to mow city properties, parks, and levees; fog sealed the streets that had been chip/sealed; replaced the tires on one of the department trucks; patched pot holes in streets and alleys; repaired the arm mower; mowed ditches and pushed back tree lines; starting the repairing of Empire Street.
Commissioner Meeks stated the State of Illinois will be running a new drainage area from the south ditch near the bridge on Cherry Street. Commissioner Meeks reported Jack Helton has maintained those culverts for several years and the city will now purchase the tile needed to alleviate the drainage problem while Mr. Helton will do the actual installation.
Commissioner Meeks acknowledged Street Department Superintendent Dave Easter, who gave an update on the repair work on Empire Street and stated the street is scheduled to be closed beginning this week.
COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Ikemire stated the city has received state income tax, sales tax, and utility tax monies and reiterated those revenues are higher than had been anticipated considering the COVID 19 restrictions. Commissioner Ikemire reported the city’s budget is currently holding steady while being at approximately thirty-three percent through this fiscal year.
COMMISSIONER JUSTIN DULGAR – WATER AND SEWER
Commissioner Dulgar arrived at the meeting at 5:10 pm and was not present for roll call by City Administrative Assistant Rudy Witsman.
Commissioner Dulgar reported the water maintenance department has been performing its standard routine duties and asked residents to please be patient with the crew especially during the hot weather.
Commissioner Dulgar reiterated the six clarifiers and pumps at the wastewater plant will need to be replaced or rebuilt and unfortunately the project will be a costly endeavor. Commissioner Dulgar stated Terry Boyer of Donohue and Associates will be meeting at the plant next week to discuss the options for the project, which will be presented to the council at a later date.
Commissioner Dulgar reminded residents that they must have their past due water bills paid by September 8th. Commissioner Dulgar stated water customers were given a four-month leeway to pay their bill and encouraged residents to please pay their bill by that date.
COMMISSIONER CHANDLER MADDEN – FIRE, HEALTH & SAFETY, GARBAGE, CITY HALL AND CIVIL DEFENSE
Commissioner Madden extended condolences, on behalf of the council, to Fire Chief Frances Speth and his family on the loss of his father.
Commissioner Madden reported in the last two weeks the fire department responded to fifteen runs. Commissioner Madden stated the department will be taking the ladder truck to old city hall for training this evening.
Commissioner Madden stated mosquito spraying is still ongoing and reminded residents to please eliminate any standing water on their property to help alleviate mosquitos.
Commissioner Madden expressed his gratitude on finally meeting in the new council room and not in the main lobby of city hall. Commissioner Madden reported most of the inside work of the city hall addition is complete while the dirt/concrete work is ongoing outside of city hall. Commissioner Madden stated the finish work is finally in sight and thanked City Administrative Assistant Rudy Witsman as well as Mayor Joe Judge for all the work they have put in this past year for the new city hall project.
CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RUDY WITSMAN
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported he had received some concerns from a resident that lives in North Park; one of the concerns was the request for more speed limit signs to be placed up and down the streets in the subdivision. City Administrative Assistant stated he spoke with Street Department Superintendent Dave Easter and some of the signs in the subdivision do need to be replaced because of age. City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported the city has an ordinance that requires residents to maintain their property as far as mowing grass and the resident’s question, for council consideration, is the adding of maintaining shrubbery to that ordinance. Another concern of the resident, is the asphalting of the streets in the subdivision. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated he explained to the resident the city does not have the financial ability to do asphalting as there are other subdivisions throughout the city, which would also desire new asphalted streets. City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported one alternative he presented to the resident was the adding of a special assessment to their real estate taxes and those monies would be used to pay the debt for the asphalting of the streets, however, all the residents in the subdivision have to agree to the assessment. City Administrative Assistant stated he has done some preliminary work to determine the amount of money needed for the asphalting to present to that resident, however the North Park Subdivision residents would have to undertake the actual project themselves as it is not the city’s responsibility. City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported, at this time the only item he is presenting for council consideration is the adding of maintaining shrubbery to the ordinance. After council discussion, it was decided the adding of shrubbery maintenance to the ordinance was not feasible at this time.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported this coming year, 2021, an election will be held for the seat that Chandler Madden was appointed to by the mayor and council. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated because twenty-eight months was left on the actual term an election must be held for the seat. City Administrative Assistant Witsman announced petitions can be picked up at city hall beginning on September 22nd, 2020 and the petitions can then be filed December 14th, 2020 through December 21st, 2020.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman encouraged residents to please put their trash out the night before their regular trash pick up day. City Administrative Witsman stated Republic Services has a new driver for the City of Mount Carmel and that driver is picking up the trash a little differently time- wise. City Administrative Assistant Witsman emphasized to please put trash out the night before to ensure it getting picked up.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reiterated requests were received from insurance companies that were interested in overseeing the city’s self-insurance program. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated Friday, August 21st was the submittal deadline and two individual companies submitted requests; one being the current insurer and the second is IPMG from the Saint Louis area.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported included within the consent agenda is Ordinance 2037 – the BYOB ordinance and opened the meeting to any questions from the council. Mayor Judge stated as of now there is nothing in the city’s ordinances stopping individuals from taking alcoholic beverages into a business and explained by implementing this ordinance, “the BYOB”, can be regulated as well as be under the city’s control. Commissioner Ikemire stated it is his understanding this ordinance strengthens the control and currently is not governed under the state liquor license regulations. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated, also within the consent agenda, is Ordinance 2040 - repealing Ordinance 631, which is in direct conflict with some of the articles within Ordinance 2037.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated Ordinance 2041 is included in the consent agenda, which has been recommended by the Illinois State Municipal League for the City of Mount Carmel to pass in order to participate in the CURE Program. City Administrative Assistant Witsman explained this is the program that was set up by the State of Illinois to distribute the CARES money that the federal government provided. City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported the passing of this ordinance authorizes the city to participate in the program.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported two façade grant applications are included within the consent agenda for 311 N. Market Street and 423 N. Market Street, with each award request being in the amount of $1000.00 for awning improvements at each location.
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 Easter no report.
POLICE CHIEF – RYAN TURNER
Officer Jared Price was present in Police Chief Turner’s absence and had no report.
FIRE CHIEF – FRANCES SPETH
Fire Chief Speth absent.
BUSINESS MOTIONS
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Madden seconded to approve the Consent Agenda. The consent agenda included the Second Reading of Ordinance 2037 – BYOB; Consideration of Ordinance 2040 – Repealing Ordinance 631; Consideration of Ordinance 2041 – Approving the Local CURE Program; Consideration of Façade Improvement Grant – 311 N. Market Street; Consideration of Façade Improvement Grant – 423 N. Market Street; approval of the paying of all bills bearing the proper signatures. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 5:26 pm
https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/8496/08-24-20_minutes.pdf
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