City of Mt. Carmel City Council met Oct. 31.
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 October 17, 2022. All present voted by roll vote. Commissioner Meeks, Ikemire, Dulgar and Zimmerman voted Aye.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Judge acknowledged Sandy Keneipp with Deno’s Craft Shop and Learning Cave, which is located at 302 N. Market Street. Sandy stated the business will sell craft supplies and also provide craft making classes for all age groups. Sandy announced there will be an open house on Saturday, November 12th and several different crafters from other communities will be in attendance. Sandy asked council approval to allow some vendors to be set up on the sidewalk in front of the building.
Mayor Judge acknowledged Terry Beckerman, who announced the Christmas Uptown Event will be Friday, December 2nd and asked council approval for the street closures from the middle of the two hundred block of Market Street down to the Sixth Street intersection starting on that Friday morning.
Mayor Judge congratulated the football team on their win against Monticello on Saturday and wished them good luck this coming weekend in the game at Tolono-Unity.
Mayor Judge congratulated the high school girls’ volleyball team on their win and wished them good luck tonight against Freeburg.
Mayor Judge stated the city has been contacted by the Canadian Consulate regarding a planned visit to the City of Mount Carmel by the Acting Consul General Aaron Annable on November 11th, who will be paying respect to Captain Bellenden Hutcheson, a recipient of the Victorian Cross for his service in the Canadian Armed Forces during World War I. Mayor Judge stated Acting Consul Annable will be honoring Hutcheson by laying a wreath on his grave at Rose Hill Cemetery at 11:00 am on that Friday the 11th.
Mayor Judge reiterated at the last council meeting he had discussed SHIP (Small Home Improvement Program) and is now seeking council approval to use $20,000.00 of ARPA fund to start the program with the maximum eligible amount being a $2000.00 grant, per person. Mayor Judge added individuals may start applying next Monday, November 7th.
Mayor Judge stated Patty Bramlet and Jeff Parker’s terms have expired on the zoning board with both serving for many years. Mayor Judge recommended the council approve the appointments of Rachel Smith and Jill Logsdon to the zoning board.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS:
COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS
Commissioner Meeks reported, in the past two weeks, the street department continued to install the steps on Market Street between Fifth and Sixth; completed several work orders, filled several potholes in alleys and streets; cut down some trees that were dangerous and trimmed some low lying tree limbs; continued maintenance on equipment; ground stumps from several trees that were cut; cleaned out the storm sewer intakes; picked up several large brush piles along the streets with the backhoe; picked up piles of trash leftover from clean up week and prepped the equipment for the beginning of leaf season
COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Ikemire stated over the last two weeks receipts were minimal totaling $28,087.00 with expenditures of $101,482.00 and over all the city is ahead of budget on revenue for the year.
COMMISSIONER JUSTIN DULGAR – WATER AND SEWER
Commissioner Dulgar reiterated the city has had discussions with the Rural Wabash County Water District regarding an inner-connection for a secondary water back-up source. Commissioner Dulgar stated RWCWD would take on the project with the city’s portion of the project being $35,000.00 and the city would repay that amount by supplying RWCWD with water each month as needed. Commissioner Dulgar asked the council to review the contract as he will present it at the next meeting for approval.
Commissioner Dulgar reported the mixer for the Risley Avenue Station has been repaired; Lead Water Operator Keith Reed will be attending the Class One and Two Wastewater Courses in Carmi to receive his certification for the wastewater plant operator.
Commissioner Dulgar stated the wastewater crew pulled the pumps at the Ficklin and the College lift stations to remove clogs as well as on pump number two at Locust Street.
Commissioner Dulgar acknowledged Public Works Director Gidcumb, who stated the sewer part of the West Third and Division Streets project has been completed, however sidewalk and roadway work still needs to be done. Public Works Director Gidcumb reported the approach on the north side of West Third leading onto Division will be poured tomorrow with the south side being done later in the week.
COMMISSIONER SUSAN ZIMMERMAN – FIRE, HEALTH & SAFETY, GARBAGE, CITY HALL AND CIVIL DEFENSE
Commissioner Zimmerman reported, during the last two weeks, the fire department was very busy due the burn ban and had to extinguish several small brush fires; they responded to eighteen runs total; conducted training with the newly purchased AEDs; the newer firefighters attended training in Fairfield for a burn class; and firefighters will be participating with several Trunk or Treat events. Commissioner Zimmerman added the burn ban has now been lifted due to the recent rains.
Commissioner Zimmerman stated the brush crew has started the leaf pick-up season and the entire route will be completed before they go back to rerun the route.
Commissioner Zimmerman asked residents to please call city hall as soon as they realize their trash was not picked up by Republic Services so they can hopefully be contacted while the trash truck is still in town.
CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RYAN TURNER
City Administrative Assistant Turner stated within the consent agenda is Ordinance 2077 – the vacating of the alley between Chestnut/Market Streets and Ninth/Tenth Streets from JR’s Repair to the Wagon Wheel; and the second reading of Ordinance 2078 – the trash rate increase, effective December 20th.
City Administrative Assistant Turner reiterated the city acquired the property at 1231 Bainum Street and then demolished the house on that property. City Administrative Assistant Turner asked council approval to accept bids for the sale of that property. City Administrative Assistant Turner reported Jeff Guisewite has started the demolition work at the property located at 318 W. Second Street.
CITY ATTORNEY – BRADY WALDROP
City Attorney Waldrop reported he met with City Administrative Assistant Turner and Public Works Director Gidcumb to identify a number of dangerous as well as unsafe structures and the interested parties have been notified about maintaining the structures along with getting them up to code.
POLICE CHIEF – MIKE MCWILLIAMS
Police Chief McWilliams reported officers participated at Trunk or Treat events and asked motorists to please pay attention to their surroundings this evening while children are out trick or treating. Police Chief McWilliams stated compliance checks were done on sex offenders today and they were reminded to keep their porchlights off this evening.
Police Chief McWilliams reiterated he had previously reported the department could no other get pads for their AEDS therefore, he stated it is time to purchase two new AEDS and fortunately a local business has offered to purchase one of the AEDS.
FIRE CHIEF – FRANCES SPETH
Fire Chief Speth absent.
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR – MIKE GIDCUMB
Public Works Director Gidcumb reported both front end loaders have been repaired and are back in service.
AIRPORT MANAGER – PARIS PENNINGTON
Airport Manager Pennington no report.
BUSINESS MOTIONS
Commissioner Dulgar motioned and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded to approve $20,000.00 from ARPA Funds to start the SHIP Program. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Dulgar, and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Dulgar motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to approve Rachel Smith and Jill Logsdon to the zoning board. They replace two outgoing members. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Dulgar and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Dulgar seconded to approve the Consent Agenda. The consent agenda contained second reading of Ordinance 2077 – vacating alley; second reading of Ordinance 2078 – trash rate increase and 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 Zimmerman motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to adjourn the meeting. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 5:33 pm
https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/11528/10-31-22_minutes.pdf
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