City of Mt. Carmel City Council met Dec. 28.
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, 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 Zimmerman seconded to approve the minutes of the meeting held on December 13, 2021. All present voted by roll vote. Commissioner Meeks, Ikemire, and Zimmerman voted Aye. Commissioner Dulgar absent.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Judge acknowledged Dave Dallas, who reported an amended resolution was prepared for the MFT funding as the amount needed was reduced due to the postponing of some street overlay work and due to the adding of incurred expenses that were MFT eligible in terms of the salt storage dome as well as the salt purchase. Mr. Dallas stated the new Resolution 684 for the MFT funds is in the amount of $190,942.50, which is an approximate reduction of $40,000.00 and asked approval for the amended resolution. City Administrative Assistant Turner stated the approval is contained within the consent agenda.
Mayor Judge stated he hoped everyone had a Merry Christmas and wished everyone a Happy New Year. Mayor Judge reported he will be giving the State of the City Address in January.
Mayor Judge reported the last two Mondays he has been helping out in Mayfield, KY and stated things are slowly starting to improve. Mayor Judge stated their courthouse, city hall, police station as well as many homes were completely destroyed and they have a long way to go before things are close to being normal again. Mayor Judge asked everyone to please keep all the tornado victims in all the surrounding communities in their thoughts and prayers.
Mayor Judge stated yesterday he attended a DCEO Training Session on Accelerated Illinois Broadband Infrastructure Planning Program and is in hopes the city will qualify to enroll in the program to receive funding for extended broadband internet services.
Mayor Judge reported he attended a Village of West Salem meeting on Monday, December 20th and spoke with Village Trustee Jeff Bradham regarding the need for a steel pole to mount a storm siren.
Mayor Judge asked council approval to donate a pole to the Village of West Salem, as the city has several unused poles on hand.
Mayor Judge stated there are one hundred twenty-two new laws taking affect in Illinois in 2022 and 2023. Mayor Judge reported the gamut of the laws is very interesting with one being the cost of licensing a gamble machine going from $25.00 to $250.00 and the City of Mount Carmel will have to rebill all gambling establishments, per the state statute license increase. Mayor Judge added the state retracked the law that states an individual cannot be over the age of thirty-five to apply for a firefighter position however now if the individual has had a time period or association with that particular fire house, they may apply for a firefighter position regardless of age. Mayor Judge stated the new laws are posted on the State of Illinois website.
Mayor Judge reminded residents to please make sure they have renewed their 2022 golf cart/UTV stickers.
Mayor Judge stated he completed open meetings training and FOIA training, which now himself along with City Administrative Assistant Turner are both FOIA Officers for the City of Mount Carmel.
Mayor Judge reported he is seeking council approval for the purchase of a 2019 Chevrolet pickup truck as the city is in the need of another vehicle. Mayor Judge stated the purchase price is $30,000.00 and the funds will come out of the Capital Improvement Account.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS:
COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS
Commissioner Meeks stated the street department is need of a newer street sweeper as the current one is approximately thirty-two years old and a 2014 Elgin Street Sweeper has been located.
Commissioner Meeks asked council approval for the inspection and possible purchase of the street sweeper.
Commissioner Meeks reported in the last two weeks the street department took the bucket truck for inspection, per OSHA requirements; poured concrete back on a sidewalk in the four hundred block of West Third Street; assisted with a water main break at the same location and also at Ladue Drive; did routine oil changes on some of the street department equipment; patched an area on Oak Street; installed Crime Stoppers signs throughout the city; and rearranged the storage building at the street department to make more room for equipment.
COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Ikemire reported receipts in the general fund for the past two weeks were $272,522.00 and expenditures were $139,939.00 with the majority of revenues being property tax, state income tax, utility tax, and state use tax.
COMMISSIONER JUSTIN DULGAR – WATER AND SEWER
Commissioner Dulgar absent.
COMMISSIONER SUSAN ZIMMERMAN – FIRE, HEALTH & SAFETY, GARBAGE, CITY HALL AND CIVIL DEFENSE
Commissioner Zimmerman reported during the last two weeks the fire department responded to seven runs and were the main drop off location for collections for Dawson Springs, KY.
Commissioner Zimmerman stated the firefighters that worked the collections spent over one hundred fifty hours collecting, sorting, loading, and packing in getting all the supplies ready.
Commissioner Zimmerman thanked all the firefighters and other individuals that helped as well as the community for their donations.
Commissioner Zimmerman reminded residents if they still have their live Christmas trees up to please keep them well watered.
Commissioner Zimmerman stated the leaf vac went down today, however if the repairs are done in a timely manner leaves will still be picked up until the first snow fall.
Commissioner Zimmerman reported the recycling site as well as brush harbor will be open on Wednesday and Thursday from 7:30 to 3:30 of this week while being closed Friday and Saturday due to the New Year Holiday. Commissioner Zimmerman stated the normal hours will resume next Monday, January 3rd.
Commissioner Zimmerman stated Republic Services is changing out some of the trash totes throughout the city and if anyone needs an additional tote or has issues with their tote to please call city hall.
CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RYAN TURNER
City Administrative Assistant Turner reiterated the city had the house at 615 N. Cherry Street demolished as it was condemned and also the property at South Mulberry Street was condemned by the city due to a house fire and stated he is seeking council approval to pay the property taxes for both properties as they will be going to tax sale. City Administrative Assistant Turner acknowledged
City Attorney Brady Waldrop, who stated the city has a demolition lien against both properties and once the city pays the back taxes the Wabash County Board should grant the city ownership of both properties.
City Administrative Assistant Turner reiterated the vacating of Ordinance 553 was discussed at the last council meeting and contained within the consent agenda is Ordinance 2062, which validates that vacating.
City Administrative Assistant Turner stated Ordinance 2063 allows for the changing of the video gaming fees from $25.00 to $250.00 to comply with the State of Illinois and the ordinance is contained within the consent agenda.
City Administrative Assistant Turner reported the airport is having record sales; the city is receiving some aviation fuel tax monies back from the state; the hangars have been updated; new seals have been put on doors; and the t-hangars have had brushes put on them to keep birds out.
City Administrative Assistant Turner recommended that Police Chief McWilliams look at West Thirteenth and Chestnut Streets where the roadway was widened for the hospital as he does not think the city can lawfully have a stop sign on the westbound side of West Thirteenth Street. City
Administrative Assistant Turner stated one option to consider is to vacate the stop signs for the east/ west bound traffic and leave a stop sign at North Chestnut Street or have a flashing red light in that area. City Administrative Assistant Turner stated he would like to readdress the issue at a future council meeting after Police Chief McWilliams looks into the situation.
City Administrative Assistant Turner reported he was contacted by the Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission regarding the payment to Kieffer Brothers Construction for the improvements done at Fifth and Oak Streets with the first payout being $133,087.22 as the funds will be coming from the State of Illinois grant money and stated he needs council authorization to proceed with the payment.
CITY ATTORNEY – BRADY WALDROP
City Attorney Waldrop no report.
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR – MIKE GIDCUMB
Public Works Director Gidcumb stated he is seeking council approval for the purchase of water/sewer suction machine from Mount Carmel Public Utility for $27,500.00 which will greatly assist with water main breaks, sanitary sewer issues, and the cleaning out of storm sewers as well saving a lot of labor time.
POLICE CHIEF – MIKE MCWILLIAMS
Police Chief McWilliams reported a search warrant was issued for a home where methamphetamines were being sold and that resulted in $32,000.00 being recovered along with the drugs and surveillance cameras. Police Chief McWilliams stated the arrest played out very successfully with no injuries involved.
Police Chief McWilliams stated the Shop with a Cop/Fireman event was very successful and approximately sixty children were provided Christmas gifts. Police Chief McWilliams thanked everyone who contributed to help make the event so successful.
FIRE CHIEF – FRANCES SPETH
Fire Chief Speth reiterated the Shop with a Cop/Fireman event was wonderful and thanked everyone who helped make it a success. Fire Chief Speth also thanked everyone who assisted with the donations for the Kentucky tornado victims.
Fire Chief Speth reported the fire department recently had the ladder trucks inspected resulting in only few minor issues which have been resolved.
BUSINESS MOTIONS
Commissioner Meeks motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to approve the donation to The Village of West Salem of excess poles for storm sirens. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioner Meeks, Ikemire, Zimmerman voted Aye. Commissioner Dulgar absent.
Commissioner Meeks motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to purchase 2019 Chevrolet truck for $30,000.00 from Jeff Linson. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Zimmerman voted Aye. Commissioner Dulgar absent.
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Meeks seconded to approve the purchase of a street sweeper, per inspection. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioner Meeks, Ikemire, Zimmerman voted Aye. Commissioner Dulgar absent.
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded to pay the taxes on parcel 05-211-28-108-001 and parcel 05-211-21-301-012. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioner Meeks, Ikemire, Zimmerman voted Aye. Commissioner Dulgar absent.
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded to waive second reading of Ordinance 2063. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioner Meeks, Ikemire, Zimmerman voted Aye. Commissioner Dulgar absent.
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Meeks seconded to pay Kieffer Brothers Construction for $133,087.22 for the Fifth and Oak Street improvement. All present vote by roll call vote. Commissioner Meeks, Ikemire, Zimmerman voted Aye. Commissioner Dulgar Absent.
Commissioner Meeks motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to approve purchase of a water/sewer suction machine from Mount Carmel Public Utility for $27,500.00. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioner Meeks, Ikemire, Zimmerman voted Aye. Commissioner Dulgar absent.
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded to approve the Consent Agenda. The consent agenda included reading of Resolution 684; reading of Ordinance 2062 – Vacates Ordinance 553; reading of Ordinance 2063 – Change video gaming fees; and the approval of the paying of all bills bearing the proper signatures. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Zimmerman voted Aye. Commissioner Dulgar absent.
Commissioner Meeks motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to adjourn the meeting. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 5:56 pm
https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/10931/12-28-21_minutes.pdf
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