City of Mount Carmel City Council met May 2.
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, 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 to approve the minutes of the meeting held on April 18, 2022. All present voted by roll vote. Commissioner Meeks, Ikemire, Dulgar and Zimmerman voted Aye.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Judge gave an update on the Mount Carmel Airport and reported in 2022 the airport had record fuels sales as well as increased operations. Mayor Judge stated the airport is a well-used asset for the City of Mount Carmel.
Mayor Judge reiterated, at a prior council meeting, the saving/repairing of one of the slides at the city park was discussed. Mayor Judge stated, unfortunately, the slide was not repairable and had to be removed. Mayor Judge reported he has applied for a grant for the purchase a new slide.
Mayor Judge stated he is asking council approval to move forward the with Rural Innovative Strong Economies (RISE) Grant program, which offers assistance to municipalities for economic development. Mayor Judge gave an overview of grant options and stated, if the city is awarded money, he would like to transform the current water treatment plant building into a Job Accelerator Facility, in order to save money, instead of tearing it down once the new water plant is built. Mayor Judge added a few years ago a study was conducted that revealed Mount Carmel would be an ideal location for a Job Accelerator facility.
Mayor Judge congratulated the MCHS Softball Team on their awesome win last week and their great season.
Mayor Judge reported the ARPA Grant paperwork has been filed with the federal treasury department for the second-year allotment of grant monies and the grand total of first allotment the city received was $462,583.00. Mayor Judge stated, as of to date, the city has spent $345,000.00 of the first allotment of ARPA funds and $161,000.00 of that money was paid to the city employees as premium pay, per federal/state grant guidelines. Mayor Judge reported the city will be doing several things for the community with the ARPA Funds in the near future.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS:
COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS
Commissioner Meeks reported, in the past two weeks the street department sprayed weeds and put down mulch around light poles, fence posts, street signs; patched several potholes; repaired several pieces of street department equipment; continued cross training with other departments; mowed several areas with the new bush hog mower; moved more items to the public works building; performed yard abatements; cut a tree at 321 W. 2nd Street and finished cleaning up the demolition site on Bainum Street.
Commissioner Meeks announced the city will be accepting bids for some small repaving/repair projects on a few alleyways that were postponed from last year.
COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Ikemire reported over the past two weeks, revenues totaled $42,658.00 and expenditures were $112,632.00 leaving approximately $2.3 million in the general fund. Commissioner Ikemire noted the Motor Fuel Tax Fund has over $900,000 for the upcoming summer projects.
COMMISSIONER JUSTIN DULGAR – WATER AND SEWER
Commissioner Dulgar thanked Franklin Frazier and Austin Saltsgaver for filling in for Lead Operator Keith Reed at the Water treatment Plant as part of the cross training through the public works department. Commissioner Dulgar reported the routine bacterial and chlorine samples were collected with the quarterly EPA samples being collected later this month. Commissioner Dulgar stated work at the new water plant site is coming among nicely, unfortunately however, shipment of materials for the plant have been delayed.
Commissioner Dulgar reported the maintenance department inspected sewer mains based on complaints; root sawed and found there was no issue with the city sewer; met multiple times with the construction crew at the new water plant site; met with the utility company at the high school football stadium for the upcoming construction work there; and called in a “JULIE” line utility for a leaking water line repair.
COMMISSIONER SUSAN ZIMMERMAN – FIRE, HEALTH & SAFETY, GARBAGE, CITY HALL AND CIVIL DEFENSE
Commissioner Zimmerman stated, last Friday, she along with Fire Chief Speth, Captain Seaton and Lieutenant Hocking attended the FDIC Conference in Indianapolis. Commissioner Zimmerman reported the conference was very enlightening and it was exciting to be able to share all the information with the fire department officers.
Commissioner Zimmerman reported during the last two weeks the fire department responded to eleven runs; held the regular meeting; participated in community service with the Wabash County Sportsman Club and the Wabash Valley Youth in Action Youth Day at Lake Froman.
Commissioner Zimmerman stated the brush/garbage crew have been busy mowing city properties and the street sweeper is still running every morning.
CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RYAN TURNER
City Administrative Assistant Turner stated approval of the grant amount of $1070.00 for the Smile Center is contained within the consent agenda. City Administrative Assistant Turner reported the Smile Center had over $10,000.00 of concrete work done on their property and some of that work included city property.
City Administrative Assistant Turner reiterated Travis Thompson with Thompson and Son Oil attended a prior council meeting regarding their property at Southgate. City Administrative Assistant Turner reported the solution he proposes is to put up “no parking signs” at the cul-de-sac area, which should satisfy their needs/issues and he would to present that ordinance at the next council meeting for approval.
City Administrative Assistant Turner stated the vacating of the stop sign at Thirteenth and Chestnut Streets, due to the expansion at Wabash General Hospital, had been discussed at a previous council meeting. City Administrative Assistant Turner reported the stop sign on Thirteenth Street heading West is not visibly seen therefore it cannot legally be enforced if a driver does not stop. City Administrative Assistant Turner asked council to consider the vacating of the stop sign for the East/West Bound Lane of Thirteenth Street and keep the stop sign on Chestnut Street heading North.
City Administrative Assistant Turner reported, in order to continue to provide the meal service through the Senior Citizens Center a price increase needs to implemented. City Administrative Assistant Turner stated the current price of the dine-in/carry-out meal is $4.25 and proposes an increase to $5.25, per meal for seniors; $8.00 for non-seniors and $6.00 for delivered meals, which would take effect June 1st. City Administrative Assistant Turner added costs are being cut in other areas of the center to assist with the budget issues.
City Administrative Assistant Turner reiterated Yale Epler of the Mount Carmel Masons had attended a prior council meeting proposing a lease agreement with the city for use of the former Girl Scout Cabin at 229 W. First Street. City Administrative Assistant Turner stated, after consulting with the city attorney, he is proposing a ten-year occupancy lease, meaning the city would be responsible for the maintenance/upkeep of the outside area of the building and the Masons would be responsible for the inside of the building. City Administrative Assistant Turner reported he will present the lease agreement for council approval after Mr. Epler discusses the proposal at the next Mason’s meeting.
City Administrative Assistant Turner addressed John Clancy, who was in attendance regrading his properties located at 500 and 502 N. Market Street, by stating the city will purchase his properties for $15,000.00 as well as pay all closing costs upon council approval. Mr. Clancy confirmed that he would accept the offer from the city for the purchase and thanked the council for working him. City Administrative Assistant Turner informed Mr. Clancy, once the city attorney has the legal documents prepared, the city will work with him on a timeline for the completion of the purchase.
CITY ATTORNEY – BRADY WALDROP
City Attorney Waldrop no report.
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR – MIKE GIDCUMB
Public Works Director Gidcumb reported the vac-tron was picked up today and thanked Mount Carmel Public Utility for selling it to the city; he went to Springfield with Dave Easter to pick up the city’s jet truck as the new pump had been installed; and the order has been placed for two thousand registers for the water meters, however it will be sixteen weeks before the city receives them.
Public Works Director Gidcumb addressed the council regarding the leases for the city’s river camps, particularly the ones located behind the sea wall, by stating in the past the area was grown up with grass/weeds and people had dumped trash there. Public Works Director Gidcumb stated the area was sectioned off and the camps were on a first come/first serve basis as long as they were kept clean as well as mowed. Public Works Director Gidcumb asked council guidance as far as continuing with the same policy or to start charging a dollar amount for the leasing of the camps. After a brief discussion, the council decided to begin charging a yearly lease payment for the camps behind the sea wall and those monies would then be used for the upkeep of the road along those camps. Public Works Director Gidcumb presented to the council for direction the other city property along River Road that have river camps that people have been “squatting on” for many years without a lease agreement with the city. After council discussion, it was decided the city needs to determine who is using the camp sites; to then take control of the property and offer lease agreements as well. City Administrative Assistant Turner interjected and stated he will work on the lease agreements to present at the next council meeting.
POLICE CHIEF – MIKE MCWILLIAMS
Police Chief McWilliams reported the officers participated in a community service event at the elementary school and enjoyed working with the school children.
Police Chief McWilliams stated he is looking at some scheduling options for the police officers that would give them more time off while still working the same number of hours and to also help alleviate some of the overtime pay.
FIRE CHIEF – FRANCES SPETH
Fire Chief Speth reported he along with City Administrative Assistant Turner checked out the department’s training center at Southgate and noticed some illegal dumping of trash. Fire Chief Speth thanked the public works department for cleaning up the area. City Administrative Assistant Turner interjected and stated a gate is being put up to help eliminate some of the issues.
BUSINESS MOTIONS
Commissioner Meeks motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to apply for RISE Grant to support the water treatment plant. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Dulgar, Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Dulgar motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to purchase 500 and 502 N. Market Street from John Clancy, Little Egypt Arts for $15,000.00 with the legal fees covered, taxes, and closing costs. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Dulgar, Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded to approve the Consent Agenda. The consent agenda contained approval of the grant for the Smile Center and 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 Meeks seconded to adjourn the meeting. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 5:49 pm
https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/11515/05-02-22_minutes.pdf
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