City of Mt. Carmel City Council Met Nov. 2.
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 October 19, 2020. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Judge acknowledged Wabash County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lesley Hipsher, who was in attendance to discuss the Fifty-Fourth Annual Christmas Parade, which is to be held on Saturday, December 5th, beginning at 5:00 pm. Ms. Hipsher stated the parade floats/entries will be parked along Market Street this year and the spectators will drive one-way on Market Street to observe the floats/entries. Ms. Hipsher asked council approval for street closures along Market Street from Third Street to Eighth Street starting at 3:00 pm and ending at 7:00 pm for the event. Ms. Hipsher reported, unfortunately the parade has to be held in this manner due to COVID 19 restrictions and she presented an itinerary for the event to the council. After council discussion regarding safety concerns, Ms. Hipsher was granted approval for the street closures.
Mayor Judge announced City Administrative Assistant Witsman and himself met with the contractor the Rotary Club has hired for the new shelter house at the city park. Mayor Judge stated the street department is tentatively scheduled to begin tearing down the old shelter house the week before Thanksgiving. Mayor Judge reported the new shelter house should hopefully be finished before next spring and then construction of the new restrooms at the park should begin shortly thereafter with everything being completed by next summer.
Mayor Judge thanked the fire and police departments with their assistance at the Trunk or Treat Event as it was very well attended. Mayor Judge stated IDPH guidelines were followed by the members of the fire and police departments during the event.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS:
COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS
Commissioner Meeks reported in the last two weeks the street department cut and trimmed trees; cleaned intakes; assisted the water maintenance department with a sewer repair; repaired a storm sewer drain and poured back concrete in the alleyway after the repairs were completed; poured a concrete pad at Merchants Park for the Santa House; cleaned up and burned the brush pile at the brush harbor; cleaned the street department shop; replaced lights in the traffic signal lights at West Ninth and Oak Streets; filled sinkholes; cleaned up an alleyway; helped clean up an oil spill on Pear Street; assisted the high school with the unloading of a truck with the fork lift; tore out and repaired a section of sidewalk; hauled the fork lift to the former Shopko parking lot for the electronics recycling day.
COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Ikemire stated in the last two weeks the city received $27,928.00 in revenues and the expenditures were approximately $113,000.00. Commissioner Ikemire reported the city is right at fifty percent through the fiscal year with the budget holding steady and looking fairly well. Commissioner Ikemire stated, however, all departments should still watch their expenditures and not spend any additional funds outside the budget.
Commissioner Ikemire reported all is well at the WC Cafeteria/Senior Center and it is operating smoothly.
COMMISSIONER JUSTIN DULGAR – WATER AND SEWER
Commissioner Dulgar absent.
COMMISSIONER CHANDLER MADDEN – FIRE, HEALTH & SAFETY, GARBAGE, CITY HALL AND CIVIL DEFENSE
Commissioner Madden extended condolences to Mayor Judge and his family for the loss of his nephew over the weekend.
Commissioner Madden reported in the last two weeks the fire department responded to thirteen runs and assisted with the Trunk or Treat Event at the city park on Friday, October 30th. Commissioner Madden thanked Mayor Judge for spearheading the event as it was well attended by many families.
Commissioner Madden stated the expansion/renovation of city hall is almost complete; the outside work is finished and a few minor interior things need to completed. Commissioner Madden thanked Kieffer Brothers Construction as well as the subcontractors for their great work and stated all local contractors were used for the project.
Commissioner Madden thanked everyone who came out for E-Recycling event on October 24th and reported CJD E-Cycling collected almost two semi-truck loads of electronics, appliances and other items. Commissioner Madden stated he is anticipating the holding of this type of event on an annual basis if there is a demand for it. Commissioner Madden thanked Mayor Judge for assisting with the loading of the items as well as Wabash County Farm Bureau, First National Bank, and Citizens National Bank for helping sponsor the event.
Commissioner Madden reported the Fall Pick-Up/Clean-Up Week was held the beginning of October and he has noticed some residents still have items sitting out. Commissioner Madden stated it is the resident and/or landlord’s responsibility to dispose of the items properly.
Commissioner Madden reminded residents if they have problems with their trash not getting picked up by Republic Services and/or problems with their trash totes such as the tote being damaged to please call city hall to ensure that the issue is taken care of. Mayor Judge interjected by stating City Administrative Assistant Witsman, Commissioner Madden and himself have had conservations with Republic Services this past week regarding the trash issues. Mayor Judge stated Republic Services has rectified the issues and has promised to provide better service in the future.
CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RUDY WITSMAN
City Administrative Assistant Witsman urged residents to please put their trash out the night before their scheduled pick-up day as Republic Services does start the trash route early of a morning. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated individuals have called city hall to report their trash not being picked up and several times it is because they did not have it out the night before.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported he has received a request for the Area Economic Development Association asking for a commitment from the council to fund their continued work within the community at the rate of $3000.00, per year for three years. City Administrative Assistant
Witsman stated this is the same amount the council has funded in the past and the same amount the county has agreed to fund as well.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated he was notified by Norfolk Southern that they will be working on the railroad crossings at Oak Street and Empire Street, however they have not confirmed an actual work date at this time.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated that within the consent agenda, is Resolution 677 regarding the anticipated new sidewalk along Oak Street. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated the resolution authorizes the City of Mount Carmel to enter into a stipulated agreement with the Illinois Commerce Commission. City Administrative Assistant Witsman clarified the city is not obligating any money at this time however, the city will be liable for some payment at a later date and funding is available to offset the expenditure.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reiterated at a prior meeting he had provided to the council a breakdown of the two companies that had provided quotes for the city’s health insurance; one quote was from IPMG and the other quote was from Mutual Medical, the city’s current carrier. City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported the total difference in premium for the administration of the program is $46,921.00 cheaper with Mutual Medical than with IPMG. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated the city needs to move forward as the current contract is set to expire on December 1st as an extension had been granted.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported someone went around the gates of the brush harbor and dumped the remnants of a small wooden building. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated this cannot continue as the State of Illinois will fine the city and shut the brush harbor down. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stressed that residents should please dispose of “brush” only at the brush harbor as that is all the city is allowed to burn, per the State of Illinois and he does not want the city to lose that opportunity.
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 absent.
POLICE CHIEF – RYAN TURNER
Police Chief Turner reported the police department is trying to move forward with new mobile radios for the officers as the current ones are old and starting to malfunction. Police Chief Turner stated he has been working with the 911 Board on the potential upgrade to a digital system and the board will fund the replacement of the radios in the officer’s vehicles but not hand-held radios. Police Chief
Turner reported the department has monies available in its discretionary fund and is seeking council approval for the expenditure as it is not a budgeted item.
FIRE CHIEF – FRANCES SPETH
Fire Chief Speth stated the fall time change last weekend was a good reminder for residents to please check their smoke detectors as well as the batteries to ensure they are in working order.
BUSINESS MOTIONS
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Madden seconded to approve the purchase of hand-held police mobile radios. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Madden seconded to approve the financial commitment of $3000.00 per year for the next three years to AEA. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Commissioner Meeks motioned and Commissioner Madden seconded to accept the proposal from Mutual Medical to administer the city self-insurance program. Two proposals were received; Mutual Medical was $46,921.00 cheaper than IPMG for total fixed costs. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Madden seconded to approve the Consent Agenda. The consent agenda included approval of Resolution 677 – stipulated agreement side walk R/R crossing and approval of the paying of all bills bearing the proper signatures. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 5:32 pm
https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/8501/11-02-20_minutes.pdf
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