City of Mount Carmel City Council met March 20.
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, City Attorney Derek McCullough
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 March 6, 2023. All present voted by roll vote. Commissioner Meeks, Ikemire, and Zimmerman voted Aye.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Judge acknowledged Wayne Walden with the Mount Carmel Kiwanis Club, who stated the city had previously approved the Kiwanis’ Circus Event on Saturday, April 22nd, however, the club now has the opportunity to have the circus on Sunday, April 23rd at the Southgate Industrial Park. as well. Mr. Walden asked council approval for the Kiwanis Club to also hold that event.
Mayor Judge introduced Keystone Energy, who were in attendance via zoom to discuss a solar project. The Keystone Energy representatives gave an overview of the proposed project involving the city’s wastewater plant and stated if the council approves the project, a non-binding letter of intent will need to signed with a six-month leeway period. Mayor Judge stated the Keystone Energy presentation is just for informational purposes at this time.
Mayor Judge acknowledged Ron Peach, who was in attendance regarding the city’s river camp sites and stated he would like to buy the camps he is currently leasing from the city. Mayor Judge stated the council will take Mr. Peach’s request under advisement.
Mayor Judge asked for prayers for the Gerald Brooks’ family and stated his service to the community was very much appreciated while he served as the director of WEMA.
Mayor Judge announced on Tuesday, March 28th and Wednesday, March 29th, he along with City Administrative Assistant Ryan Turner will be travelling to Washington DC as part of the Illinois Congressional Delegation. Mayor Judge reported they will participate in the lobbying for several large projects that require federal funding, which could assist the residents of the City of Mount Carmel as well as Wabash County with one of the projects involving the city’s swimming pool.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS:
COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS
Commissioner Meeks reported, in the past two weeks, the street department continued filling potholes; had several trees cut down and the stumps taken out; cleaned the drainage ditch at Rose Hill Cemetery; assisted the water department with a couple digs; performed repairs at the senior citizens building; cleaned the ditch at Southgate Industrial Park; assisted the brush department with the picking up of large brush piles; and replaced a water pump.
COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Ikemire reported, over the last two weeks, receipts totaled $350,672.00 with expenditures of $84,381.00 in the general fund and over all the budget is looking well as the city prepares to end this fiscal year in order to move on to the next fiscal year.
COMMISSIONER JUSTIN DULGAR – WATER AND SEWER
Commissioner Dulgar was not in attendance for roll call and joined in after the start of the meeting.
Commissioner Dulgar stated, since he is not running for re-election, City Administrative Assistant Turner is handling the water/sewer department budgets for the new fiscal year.
Commissioner Dulgar congratulated James Rafferty on passing the Class Three Waste Water Certificate Test. Commissioner Dulgar reported the flood gates were opened at the waste water plant and the flood pumps were shut down at the levee stations.
Commissioner Dulgar stated the distribution bacteriological samples were collected at the water treatment plant and all the routine daily samples collected have shown great results.
Commissioner Dulgar reported the water/sewer maintenance department have been performing their routine duties.
COMMISSIONER SUSAN ZIMMERMAN – FIRE, HEALTH & SAFETY, GARBAGE, CITY HALL AND CIVIL DEFENSE
Commissioner Zimmerman reported, during the last two weeks, the fire department had a combined total of seventeen meetings, class times and runs, which included fires that were contained; medical assists and firefighters reading to the kindergarten classes. Commissioner Zimmerman stated it is a great benefit for the city’s public departments to interact with the school children. Commissioner
Zimmerman reported the fire department also participated in an LP Burn Class at Fairfield, which was a very interesting and beneficial class to attend.
Commissioner Zimmerman stated the brush department has starting mowing and they continue to pick up limbs/brush. Commissioner Zimmerman reminded residents to please put their yard waste and limbs by the street, not in the street and/or alleys.
Commissioner Zimmerman reiterated the city-wide yard sales will be March 31st through April 1st, followed by the city’s spring clean-up week, April 3rd though April 7th. Commissioner Zimmerman stated the spring clean-up week is technically Monday, April 3rd and residents should have their larger items sitting out on Sunday night for pick-up.
CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RYAN TURNER
City Administrative Assistant Turner stated he has been working the on new fiscal year budget as well as the new payroll system.
City Administrative Assistant Turner reported there are three ordinances on the agenda for council approval; Ordinance 2086 – establishing directional boring permit procedures, which requires companies to obtain a permit before boring to help alleviate any issues while working in Mount Carmel; Ordinance 2087 – establishing an intergovernmental agreement for participation in MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System), which is an emergency organization that assists the fire department; Ordinance 2088 – approval of a special use permit for placement of a mobile home in a R-3 residential district. The zoning board had approved the permit and recommended the council approve the request, as the mobile home is currently already on the property and is just changing ownership.
CITY ATTORNEY – DEREK MCCULLOUGH
City Attorney McCullough reported the sale of the property at 218 W. Second Street has been concluded and he is continuing to work with Public Works Director Gidcumb on dilapidated properties in the city, which is an ongoing process.
AIRPORT MANAGER – PARIS PENNINGTON
Airport Manager Pennington absent.
POLICE CHIEF – MIKE MCWILLIAMS
Police Chief McWilliams reiterated dispatch will be training with Mount Carmel Public Utility on Wednesday for the after-hours gas leak reporting.
Police Chief McWilliams stated the city is very lucky that the police department as well as the fire department are active in the community by serving on a volunteer basis and emphasized how proud he is of their efforts.
Police Chief McWilliams reported the officers continue to train for the de-escalation training that is required by Illinois State Statute.
FIRE CHIEF – FRANCES SPETH
Fire Chief Speth thanked the council for approving the MABAS agreement.
Fire Chief Speth stated six firefighters passed their first responders training; the clean-up at Southgate is almost complete and reminded residents to please do not burn their leaves.
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR – MIKE GIDCUMB
Public Works Director Gidcumb stated the street sweeper is running on Monday, Wednesday and Friday cleaning the city streets; the work at Lincoln Park is almost complete with mainly seeding and tilling needing to be finished; projects at the main city park are ongoing; and some bigger projects are coming up along Market Street, Division Street as well as Oak Street.
BUSINESS MOTIONS
Commissioner Meeks motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to approve Ordinance 2086 - establish directional boring permit procedures in the City of Mount Carmel. Waive second reading. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Dulgar and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Meeks seconded to approve Ordinance 2087 - establish intergovernmental agreement for participation in MABAS agreement. Waive second reading. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Dulgar and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Meeks motioned and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded to approve Ordinance 2088 - a special use for the placement of a mobile home in R-3 residential district. Waive second reading. All present voted by roll call. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Dulgar and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Ikemire 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 Zimmerman motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to go to executive session for the discussion of contract negotiations and non-union pay. All present voted Aye by roll call vote. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Dulgar and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Regular session of the council meeting recessed at 4:46 pm with executive session beginning at 4:49 pm.
Commissioner Zimmerman motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to conclude executive session and return to regular session at 5:24 pm. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded to adjourn the meeting. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 5:25 pm
https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/11593/03-20-2023_minutes.pdf
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