City of Mount Carmel City Council met Aug. 22.
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 seconded to approve the minutes of the meeting held on August 8, 2022. All present voted by roll vote. Commissioner Meeks, Ikemire, Dulgar and Zimmerman voted Aye.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Judge acknowledged Don Mains, who was requesting permission for the Mount Carmel Lions Club to collect donations for their annual fundraiser at the designated intersections on October 14th and 15th with rain dates of October 21st and 22nd.
Mayor Judge asked council approval to appoint Kristi Schrader to fill a vacancy on the airport board.
Mayor Judge reported he was contacted back by the Illinois Department of Transportation out of Effingham approving an overpass on Walnut Street and they have sent the project on to Springfield in hopes that the grant will be applied for so Mount Carmel will receive the much-needed overpass.
Mayor Judge reiterated there was a car accident in the spring that took out the entry wall to Cherry Hills Subdivision and stated he has contacted the insurance company of the driver of that car, even though it is not the city’s responsibility. Mayor Judge reported a mason from Evansville has been contacted to hopefully repair the entry wall.
Mayor Judge stated football as well as volleyball season is coming up and he is looking forward to a good season for both of the Aces teams.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS:
COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS
Commissioner Meeks stated, in the past two weeks, the street department assisted the maintenance department with several water main leaks; cut down two trees at the city park; formed and poured sidewalks on First, Fifth, and Market Streets; continued to mow city properties; sprayed weeds in alleys in preparedness for the chip/seal program; and filled in potholes. Commissioner Meeks read the list of the alleys to be chip and sealed.
Commissioner Meeks addressed the council regarding Republic Services picking up trash in the alley rather than the street by stating he feels it would beneficial to the city as far as less wear and tear on the alleys as well as time saving for Republic Services to pick up trash by the street. Commissioner Meeks added he realized there are some areas in the city where the trash would need to be picked up in the alley. Mayor Judge advised Commissioner Meeks along with Commissioner Zimmerman to possibly meet and discuss the issue with Republic Services.
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 totaled $272,784.00 and expenditures were $111,141.00 over the past two weeks with the city’s finances tracking well. Commissioner Ikemire stated the MFT fund maintains a strong balance of $991,000.00, which is beneficial with the upcoming chip/seal program.
COMMISSIONER JUSTIN DULGAR – WATER AND SEWER
Commissioner Dulgar reported the water treatment plant collected bacteria samples from the distribution system and the outdoor basins are scheduled to be cleaned as both are a part of the routine duties. Commissioner Dulgar stated there was a snag regarding the new water treatment facility construction site as a utility relocation evaluation was conducted and also Kieffer Brothers had to be pulled from that site to assist the city with the emergency project at West Third and Division.
Commissioner Dulgar stated upon the investigation of the water main break at West Third and Division, it was discovered that twelve hundred feet of sewer line has to be replaced which is the main trunk line to the wastewater plant. Commissioner Dulgar reported the project will be very costly and unfortunately, IEPA does not provide emergency funding. Commissioner Dulgar stated Mayor Judge is looking into the options for funding/financing and he will report back on those options at the next council meeting.
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 fourteen calls and they assisted with the house explosion north of Allendale. Commissioner Zimmerman extended thoughts and prayers to the Murphy family as well as all the emergency personnel that responded to the incident.
Commissioner Zimmerman reminded residents to please call city hall if their trash is not picked up and stated Republic Services will be running its regular pickup on Labor Day.
CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RYAN TURNER
City Administrative Assistant Turner reported the city will be accepting sealed bids on a 2009 Chevy Malibu, which was the airport’s vehicle and it is parked at city hall if anyone wishes to look it over. Mayor Judge interjected that the airport got the vehicle through the GSA, which is the FAA grant process and it cannot be transferred to the city, it has to be put up for bid with the monies going back into airport projects. City Administrative Assistant Turner added bids will be accepted until the next council meeting on Tuesday, September 6th.
City Administrative Assistant Turner stated this meeting constitutes the second reading of Ordinance 2076 – Sewer Rate Increases. City Administrative Assistant Turner acknowledged Commissioner Dulgar, who reiterated at the last two council meetings a sewer rate increase was discussed and he had given an overview of the necessity of raising those rates. Commissioner Dulgar reported, effective September 2022, a $4.25 increase will be applied to the first tier of the sewer rates along with a fifty-cent per thousand increase on the second tier. Commissioner Dulgar stated a fifty-cent per thousand will be applied again in September 2023 through September 2024 with a final fifty-cent per thousand being applied from September 2024 through September 2025 and added the increases apply to the sewer rates only. Commissioner Dulgar explained that the water and sewer departments operate solely on the monies collected from the water/sewer bills and funds cannot be used from the city’s general fund for any expenses.
CITY ATTORNEY – BRADY WALDROP
City Attorney Waldrop no report.
POLICE CHIEF – MIKE MCWILLIAMS
Police Chief McWilliams reported Ashton Walker was recently hired as a new police officer and starts at the academy on August 29th. Police Chief McWilliams stated Ashton is a volunteer fireman and is also in the National Guard.
FIRE CHIEF – FRANCES SPETH
Fire Chief Speth stated the State Fire Marshall office wanted to thank the Mount Carmel Police Department for the use of their drone, which helped out with investigation of the house explosion last Friday evening.
Fire Chief Speth reiterated the hose testing on various equipment started on Saturday, which is part of ISO requirements.
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR – MIKE GIDCUMB
Public Works Director Gidcumb absent.
BUSINESS MOTIONS
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Meeks seconded for the appointment of Kristi Schrader to the airport board. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Dulgar and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Dulgar motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to accept sewer rate increases. This meeting constitutes the second reading of Ordinance 2076. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Dulgar and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Dulgar motioned and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded to approve the Consent Agenda. The consent agenda contained approval of the paying of all bills bearing the proper signatures. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Dulgar and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Meeks motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to adjourn the meeting. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 5:21pm
https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/11523/08-22-22_minutes.pdf
Alerts Sign-up