City of Mt. Carmel City Council met Dec. 13.
Here are 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 Ryan Turner and City Attorney Brady Waldrop
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 November 29, 2021. All present voted by roll vote. Commissioner Meeks, Ikemire, Dulgar and Zimmerman voted Aye.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Judge acknowledged Jay Dee, who was in attendance to address the council regarding the Cherry Street Brick Project, which was established a few years ago to repair areas in the brick street through private donations. Mr. Dee gave an overview of the places on Cherry Street that had been repaired and stated he would now like to move forward with having the intersection of East Seventh and Cherry Street repaired. Mr. Dee stated the Cherry Street Brick Project currently has $6800.00 in funds and he will raise the remaining monies needed to complete the project. Mr. Dee presented the proposal to the council for approval to proceed with the project.
Mayor Judge asked for prayers for the tornado victims throughout Southern Illinois, Kentucky, Arkansas and other areas that were impacted by the storms last Friday night. Mayor Judge stated he has been contacted by several people wanting to help the tornado victims and reported he is organizing a food drive in hopes of having a truck filled by this coming Friday. Mayor Judge stated the semi-truck will be located at the back of the fire station tomorrow and donations may be taken there this week. Mayor Judge added that monetary donations may be taken to city hall and those donations will be given to the appropriate people. Mayor Judge thanked Ivers Farms for donating the use of the truck, the fuel and the driver to haul the donations for the Dawson Springs, KY residents. Mayor Judge reported his contact at command central in Henderson, KY is very grateful to the citizens of Mount Carmel and Wabash County for their donations. Mayor Judge stated no community is ever prepared for the horrific storms that happened last Friday night no matter how well organized that community is. Mayor Judge reported Police Chief McWilliams and Fire Chief Speth will be working with City Administrative Assistant Turner as well as the council on putting a disaster plan together in the event of something similar happening here in Mount Carmel.
Mayor Judge stated both the Christmas Parade and the Christmas Uptown Event were wonderful and praised the organizers for the great job on both events.
Mayor Judge wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS:
COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS
Commissioner Meeks reported in the last two weeks the street department assisted with the new sidewalk along Oak Street; continued replacing sidewalks in various locations throughout the city; poured a concrete pad at the city park for the gaga ball court; took down a tree on Fourth Street and two trees on Second Street; and assisted the water maintenance department with a water leak near the senior citizens center.
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 receipts in the general fund were just over $150,000.00 and expenditures were $233,652.00 with the majority of the revenue being from state income tax, replacement tax and liquor license renewals. Commissioner Ikemire stated the city’s budget is ahead of schedule on revenue and is moving in the right direction.
COMMISSIONER JUSTIN DULGAR – WATER AND SEWER
Commissioner Dulgar reported water samples were collected at the water treatment plant for the monthly testing for the EPA; the Oak Street pump station battery failed and was replaced; the outside filters will be drained and cleaned, weather permitting.
Commissioner Dulgar stated the water maintenance department repaired water leaks; cleaned up the areas around the new sidewalks; delivered a new hydrant to Oak Street and Willow Swamp Road; and met with Mount Carmel Public Utility on multiple occasions about water service lines crossing gas lines.
Commissioner Dulgar thanked Mayor Judge for assisting at the wastewater plant when the #2 screw pump went down over the weekend and for fixing the issue without having to call in an outside source.
Commissioner Dulgar reported a meeting was held with Donohue Engineering this past week regarding plans for the wastewater plant and he will present the proposed developments/upgrades as well as the costs at a future council meeting.
COMMISSIONER SUSAN ZIMMERMAN – FIRE, HEALTH & SAFETY, GARBAGE, CITY HALL AND CIVIL DEFENSE
Commissioner Zimmerman reiterated donations for the Kentucky Tornado Victims will be accepted at the fire department and new toys are also being collected at the Mount Carmel Fire Station for Mayfield, KY until Sunday by Bellmont Firefighter Justin Hocking.
Commissioner Zimmerman reported during the last two weeks the fire department participated in the Christmas Uptown Event and the Christmas Parade; collected donations for the Shop with a Cop/Fireman at four different Christmas light display events; and responded to four fire runs.
Commissioner Zimmerman stated with the upcoming holidays some adjustments have been made to the hours of the city’s recycling/transfer site. Commissioner Zimmerman reported the site will be closed on December 24th and 25th, however it will be open on Wednesday, December 22nd and Thursday, December 23rd from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. Commissioner Zimmerman added the site will also be closed on December 31st and January 1st, being open instead on Wednesday, December 29th and Thursday, December 30th with the normal hours resuming on Monday, January 3rd.
Commissioner Zimmerman reported the leaf vac truck is back in service and the leaf pickup is back on schedule while following the normal pick-up routes.
CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RYAN TURNER
City Administrative Assistant Turner presented to the council for approval the 2022 meeting dates and holidays schedule.
City Administrative Assistant Turner asked council approval to vacate Ordinance 553, which is an ordinance that allows the city to sell alcoholic beverages at the community room and the city no longer owns that building.
City Administrative Assistant Turner stated this meeting constitutes the second reading of Ordinance 2061 - the tax levy ordinance, which is a reduction in real estate taxes in the amount $22,085.00 and approval is contained within the consent agenda.
CITY ATTORNEY – BRADY WALDROP
City Attorney Waldrop no report.
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR – MIKE GIDCUMB
Public Works Director Gidcumb reported all the different city departments have been working very well together in performing various duties and he thanked the employees for stepping up by working together in getting the work done.
POLICE CHIEF – MIKE MCWILLIAMS
Police Chief McWilliams stated the police department has been overly busy in community-oriented events; to include the Christmas Uptown Event, the Christmas Parade, participating as bell ringers at Buehlers for Operation Share, and preparing for the Shop with a Cop/Fireman event this coming Friday.
Police Chief McWilliams reported the department has also been busy with the normal duties and have been whittling away on the drug arrests with another arrest being made on December 6th.
FIRE CHIEF – FRANCES SPETH
Fire Chief Speth reminded residents if they have a real Christmas tree to please keep it watered and to be cautious while using space heaters.
BUSINESS MOTIONS
Commissioner Dulgar motioned and Commissioner Meeks seconded to accept J.R. Dee’s proposal to fix Cherry Street intersection at East Seventh Street. All present voted Aye by roll call vote.
Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Dulgar, Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Zimmerman motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to accept the 2022 meetings and holiday schedule. All present voted Aye by roll call vote. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Dulgar, Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Dulgar motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to vacate Ordinance 553 – Sale or Delivery of Alcoholic Liquor in the community room. All present voted Aye by roll call vote.
Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Dulgar, Zimmerman vote Aye.
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Dulgar seconded to approve the Consent
Agenda. The consent agenda included the Second Reading of Ordinance 2061 – Tax Levy and the approval of the paying of all bills bearing the proper signatures. All present voted by roll call vote.
Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Dulgar, Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Dulgar motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to adjourn the meeting. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 5:37 pm
https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/10921/12-13-21_minutes.pdf
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