City of Carmel City Council Met May 17.
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, Justin Dulgar, Susan Zimmerman
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 Dulgar seconded to approve the minutes of the meeting held on May 3, 2021. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Judge acknowledged Doug Hatchett, who was in attendance expressing his concerns regarding the West Fourth Street Ballfield. Mr. Hatchett asked if netting or higher fencing could be installed to help when balls are hit out of the ballpark and hit people’s houses or vehicles. Commissioner Dulgar, who is also president of the Mount Carmel Little League, addressed the concerns by stating the Little League is aware of the need for higher fencing and is planning on hopefully replacing the fence by the end of this ball season. Mayor Judge interjected by asking that Commissioner Dulgar and Commissioner Meeks look into the possibility of installing temporary netting until the higher fencing can be installed and to contact Mr. Hatchett with a solution.
Mayor Judge acknowledged Safe Haven Representative Laura Leathers, who was seeking council approval to collect donations on city street corners on Saturday, June 19th. Mayor Judge stated the collection cannot be on any Illinois State Highways however, City Administrative Assistant Witsman will provide Safe Haven with a list of intersections for the event.
Mayor Judge acknowledged Terry Beckerman, who was in attendance to announce the Roots-N Que Event which will be held on June 18th and 19th. Mr. Beckerman asked permission to close Market Street from Third to Fifth and the one-hundred block of West Fourth Street on the morning of Friday, June 18th. The council granted approval for the street closures.
Mayor Judge stated the city has run into some issues at the swimming pool as there was some unexpected concrete damage and the street department is repairing the concrete. Mayor Judge reported the high dive at the pool is no longer safe and the city’s insurance company has advised the city to longer have the high dive. Mayor Judge stated the high dive has been removed and at this time he is unsure what it will be replaced with.
Mayor Judge reported it has been tradition that the swimming pool opens on Memorial Day Weekend; unfortunately, with the training of the lifeguards, the pool repairs and the actual filling of the pool, it will not open until early June. Mayor Judge stated the city is still in need of lifeguards for the pool, and lifeguard certification will be held on Memorial Day Weekend.
Mayor Judge congratulated the Class of 2021 and extended congratulations to Commissioner Zimmerman’s son Max who graduated from Mount Carmel High School as well as to all city employees who had family members graduating.
Mayor Judge welcomed two new officers to the police department, David Houser and Art Kimmel. Mayor Judge stated both gentlemen are lateral transfers and they did not have to attend the police academy. Mayor Judge reported the police department is now back to a full squad.
Mayor Judge stated the new address of 1037 Enterprise Lane has been established for the mental hospital, which is one of the requirements of approval by the State of Illinois. Mayor Judge reported a mental hospital facility is very much needed and its approval is looking very positive at this point.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS:
COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS
Commissioner Meeks stated in the last two weeks the street department continued to mow city properties; cut and cleaned up a tree at Second and Market Streets; hauled barricades uptown for the music concert at Merchants Park; cleaned intakes; replaced lights at the ballfields; assisted the water maintenance with digging out and installing of twelve inch casing on a high pressure water main; performed concrete repairs at the swimming pool; opened and closed a grave at Rose Hill Cemetery; worked with Jeff Guisewite the cleaning out of a ditch on the north side of East Fifth Street near Golden Aces Way.
COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Ikemire gave an overview of the receipts over the last two weeks and stated the new fiscal year has started out well.
Commissioner Ikemire announced the WC Cafeteria and Senior Center will have the Annual Fish Fry on Thursday, July 1st.
COMMISSIONER JUSTIN DULGAR – WATER AND SEWER
Commissioner Dulgar stated the anaerobic digestor project at the wastewater plant that was started a few years ago has been completed. Commissioner Dulgar reported the second round of the primary and final clarifier rebuild that was included in the wastewater department budget will take place next week.
Commissioner Dulgar reported Lead Operator Keith Reed has been collecting the daily samples at the water treatment plant as part of the normal routine and the IEPA monthly samples were collected today. Commissioner Dulgar stated there is an issue with the wiring in the yard at the water treatment plant and Bolden Electric has been contacted to assess the situation. Commissioner Dulgar reported there is also an electric issue with the water tower on Risley Avenue and the malfunctioning part, which is under warranty, has been sent in for replacement.
Commissioner Dulgar stated the permit application has been submitted to Illinois EPA for the water main project at West Third and Walnut Streets. Commissioner Dulgar added once the city receives the permit and IDOT approves the work; the project can be started.
COMMISSIONER SUSAN ZIMMERMAN – FIRE, HEALTH & SAFETY, GARBAGE, CITY HALL AND CIVIL DEFENSE
Commissioner Zimmerman reported in the last two weeks the fire department responded to twelve runs.
Commissioner Zimmerman announced the Guns and Hoses Event will be held on Sunday, June 13th at 1:00 pm at Wabash Valley College.
Commissioner Zimmerman reiterated, as of June 7th, all Mount Carmel resident’s garbage pick-up day will be on Monday with multiple garbage trucks running the garbage route in the city. Commissioner Zimmerman stated residents should set their trash out prior to 5:00 am to ensure it will be picked up.
Commissioner Zimmerman reminded, when dropping off recyclables, please take those items out of the bags before disposing of them in the bins.
CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RUDY WITSMAN
City Administrative Assistant Witsman reiterated he has been in negotiations regarding the two cell towers on city properties. City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated he approached the cell tower company with the offer of $370,000.00 and their counter offer was $350,000.00. City Administrative
Assistant Witsman reported the city receives approximately $1200.00 monthly, per tower. After council discussion, City Administration Witsman stated he will contact the cell tower company to inform them the city is standing firm at this time with the amount of $370,000.00. The council will table a decision at this time.
City Administrative Assistant Witsman stated he received a contract proposal from Donohue regarding the new water treatment plant and asked the council to please review the proposal as he will present it at the June 1st council meeting for consideration.
CITY ATTORNEY – BRADY WALDROP
City Attorney Waldrop absent.
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 stated this will be the last council meeting he will be serving as police chief and he expressed his appreciation for the support from the council over the last two years. Mayor Judge and the council thanked Police Chief Turner for the time and effort he has put in to the position.
FIRE CHIEF – FRANCES SPETH
Fire Chief Speth absent.
BUSINESS MOTIONS
Commissioner Dulgar and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded to approve the Consent Agenda. The consent agenda included approval of the paying of all bills bearing the proper signatures. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 5:33 pm
https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/10771/05-17-21_minutes.pdf
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