City of Mt. Carmel City Council Met Nov. 16.
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 - Eric Ikemire, Justin Dulgar, 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 Dulgar motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to approve the minutes of the meeting held on November 2, 2020. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Judge asked residents due to the COVID spike to please wear their masks, social distance, wash their hands and obey all CDC/IDPH guidelines.
Mayor Judge reported a news release was given to the media from the Illinois Municipal League Executive Director Brad Cole, which stems from Governor Pritzker’s announcements and accusations regarding the rising numbers of COVID 19. Mayor Judge gave a brief overview of the new release and stated there is nothing the local officials can do at this point, unfortunately, until the governor changes how he implements the COVID 19 mitigation measures/guidelines.
Mayor Judge wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving; encouraged all to practice social distancing with their families; to stay healthy and safe during the holiday. Mayor Judge stated hopefully the schools can go back to regular session on December 1st and the COVID numbers will be decreasing soon.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS:
COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS
Commissioner Meeks absent.
COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Ikemire reported in the past two weeks the city has received $179,178.00 in revenues with mainly all the monies being from state income tax, utility tax, sales tax, and state use tax.
Commissioner Ikemire stated over the last few weeks he has been asked several times about the real estate tax bills and why they have not been mailed out. Commissioner Ikemire emphasized it is the county’s responsibility to issue the real estate tax bills not the city.
COMMISSIONER JUSTIN DULGAR – WATER AND SEWER
Commissioner Dulgar reported the approved rebuilding of one primary clarifier and one final clarifier at the wastewater plant is scheduled for November 30th with the project to be completed within a week. Commissioner Dulgar stated the start up testing of the digestor is on delay due to COVID and anticipates the testing should take place in February 2021. Commissioner Dulgar reported Wastewater Plant Lead Operator Josh Peach is staying up to date on his required continuing education via online training.
Commissioner Dulgar stated the Wastewater Plant’s NPDES permit was filed late in 2018 and corrective procedures have taken place to prevent this from happening again. Commissioner Dulgar reported the Stipulation Agreement with the IEPA contains a fine in the amount of $1,620.00 due to the late filing of the NPDES permit. The Stipulation Agreement is presented in the Consent Agenda for Council approval.
Commissioner Dulgar reported the water treatment plant is operating well and the crew has been performing the routine maintenance as well as cleaning up the leaves outside around the plant to help prevent any issues. Commissioner Dulgar stated the required monthly water samples were collected by Lead Operator Keith Reed and sent in to the EPA.
Commissioner Dulgar stated the water/sewer maintenance department responded to and resolved a sewer main issue in the North Park area. Commissioner Dulgar reported a solution for the water line issue at West Third and Walnut Streets is ongoing.
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 fifteen runs and raised the flag at the VFW for the Veterans Day Ceremony.
Commissioner Madden announced leaf pickup began today starting on the west side of Walnut Street to Oak Street and from West First to Mount Carmel Middle School. Commissioner Madden stated the leaf pickup will continue on then from the east side of Walnut to Peach Street and from Sharp Avenue to Thirteenth Street; the subdivisions going North along College Drive and Park Road as well as the subdivisions on Cherry Street will follow. Commissioner Madden reminded to please do not put sticks/trash in the piles of leaves as it can clog the leaf vac and if debris is found in the leaf pile, the leaves will not be picked up. Commissioner Madden reported the leaf vac is ran more often on streets that are prone to flooding due to leaves blocking the intakes and asked residents to please use caution when driving near the workers picking up the leaves.
Commissioner Madden reported with the holidays approaching people are starting to decorate and stated to avoid fires during the holidays please double check Christmas lights; keep decorations and wires away from overhead powerlines; do not hammer, nail or tack into electrical cords while hanging lights; outdoor lightening and inflatable decorations should be plugged into a ground fault outlet with circuit protectors; indoor lights should not touch drapes, furniture or carpet; keep lighted candles away from flammable items; use safety caps on all electrical outlets not being used especially if small children live in the household.
Commissioner Madden wished everyone a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving.
CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RUDY WITSMAN
City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated city hall will be closed next Thursday, November 26th and Friday, November 27thfor the Thanksgiving Holiday. City Administrative Assistant Witsman reminded residents the brush harbor will also be closed Friday, November 27th and Saturday, November 28th in observance of the holiday.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported the lobby at city hall will be closed until further notice due to a small outbreak of COVID. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated water bill payments may be paid online on the city’s website or may be put in the city’s outside drop box. Mayor Judge interjected by announcing once the city hall lobby opens back up, the decision has been made to close during lunchtime hours at the beginning of the new year. Mayor Judge stated this has not been done in the past, however with COVID and with the change in customer base that actually comes into the lobby; it is in the best interest of the city to close at lunch and not to stagger the lunchtimes. Mayor Judge affirmed the change in hours will be announced before the start of the new year.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated the city was approached by Wabash General Hospital to consider the widening of West Thirteenth Street from Market Street to Chestnut Street as well as improving the radius of the northwest corner of Market Street and Thirteenth. City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported the hospital will be donating four feet of their property to allow the city to move the sidewalk back towards the hospital building in that same area. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated there are sufficient monies available in the MFT Fund and recommended the council approve the request, which is contained within the consent agenda. After a discussion of the amount of monies in the MFT Fund as well as the potential of incoming grant monies, council decided to approve the request.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported Ordinance 2042, which is the vacating of an alley on the south side of the old city hall building to allow transfer of that property to the new owners of 219 N. Market Street, is contained within the consent agenda.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated the city has an agreement with Donohue to evaluate a “hydraulic bottleneck” located at Outer North Cherry and Easy Streets. City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported flow studies as well as smoke studies have been conducted for the area as it has had several problems over the years with the overflow of sanitary sewer. City Administrative
Assistant Witsman stated he has given Donohue those studies and has asked them to prepare a proposal for possible solutions that the city may look at “down the road”. City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported the amount of the contract agreement is $7600.00 and it is included within the consent agenda.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reiterated the Stipulation Agreement with the IEPA regarding a fine in the amount of $1,620.00 for late filing of the NPDES permit is contained within the consent agenda and the City Council voted to approve the Stipulated Agreement.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reported an agreement has been met with the Machinist Union, which represents the city’s water, sewer, street departments and the agreement is also contained within the consent agenda.
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 absent.
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 widening of Thirteenth Street using MFT funds; approval of Ordinance 2042 – Vacate alley adjacent to 219 N. Market Street; approval of agreement with Donohue to evaluate hydraulic bottleneck; approval of Stipulation Agreement with IEPA regarding NPDES violation and fine in the amount of $1,620.00; accept four-year agreement with the Machinist; and approval of the paying of all bills bearing the proper signatures. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 5:20 pm
https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/8502/11-16-2020_minutes.pdf
Alerts Sign-up