City of Mount Carmel City Council met July 10.
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, Tyson Meador, 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 June 26, 2023. All present voted by roll vote. Commissioner Meeks, Ikemire, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Judge acknowledged Wabash County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lesley Hipsher, who was in attendance to announce the Annual Ag Days Festival August 2nd to August 5th and asked council approval for the street closures along Market Street from Fifth Street through the intersection of Third Street beginning at 6:00 pm Monday, July 31st, while keeping a fire lane open on the west side of Market Street.
Mayor Judge asked for a moment of silence for Tracy Dunkel, who was the director of the Senior Citizens Center and an employee of the city since 2005. Mayor Judge stated Tracy passed away Sunday, July 2nd and her services will be this Friday, July 14th. Mayor Judge stated business is moving forward at the Senior Citizens Center as the city is trying to make up for the great loss in Tracy.
Mayor Judge reported the Fantastic Fourth Celebration was an interesting week as several events were cancelled due to the weather, however the “shining star” of the celebrations was the Touch-a Truck Event. Mayor Judge thanked Roger Pierce, Mark Seaton, Mike McWilliams, Commissioner Zimmerman, Frances Speth and Rod Rodriguez as the event was a great success. Mayor Judge added the assistance from the police officers and firefighters was greatly appreciated as well.
Mayor Judge stated the crews are still cleaning up from the recent storms and thanked the police department, fire department, the public works department, WEMA as well as Mount Carmel Public Utility for all their efforts.
Mayor Judge reiterated the city has been contacted by Republic Services regarding the garbage contract and the extending of the current contract for five more years, which will in turn lock in the five-year price. Mayor Judge stated if the city chooses to accept bids again for the garbage service there could be a significant increase in costs. Mayor Judge asked for guidance from the council for the proposed drafting of a letter to Republic Services for the extension of the contract with the locked in five-year price, which will start August 1st. After discussing the request, the council approved the drafting of the letter.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS:
COMMISSIONER TYSON MEADOR – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS
Commissioner Meador reported, in the past two weeks, the street department has been very busy cleaning up after the storms
COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Ikemire extended condolences to the Tracy Dunkel family as well as to her co workers at the Senior Citizens Center.
Commissioner Ikemire thanked Mayor Judge and Dave Easter for cooking the fish for the Senior Citizens Center fish fry on June 29th as approximately two hundred seventy-five meals were sold.
Commissioner Ikemire reported, in the last two weeks, receipts were at $127,000.00 and expenditures were $215,000.00 with the city’s budget being “right on target”.
COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – WATER AND SEWER
Commissioner Meeks reported the water/sewer departments kept busy assisting with the storm clean-up.
COMMISSIONER SUSAN ZIMMERMAN – FIRE, HEALTH & SAFETY, GARBAGE, CITY HALL AND CIVIL DEFENSE
Commissioner Zimmerman commended the crews for all their efforts in the storm clean-up as they are doing a wonderful job cleaning up all the debris. Commissioner Zimmerman reminded residents the brush harbor is open for anyone who would want to haul their brush from the storm as it could be at least two weeks for the brush crew is back on their normal route. Commissioner Zimmerman affirmed any brush that is burned has to be in a “fire pit” and the actual burning of a large pile of brush is not allowed in the city limits.
Commissioner Zimmerman reported, over the last two weeks the fire department, assisted with the wind storm damage; participated in several community events which included the Touch-a-Truck Event, the July 4th parade, the flag display on Fourth Street, and were on standby for the fireworks display.
CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RYAN TURNER
City Administrative Assistant Turner reported there will be a pickleball tournament at the city park this coming weekend and asked citizens to be mindful while driving through the park. City Administrative Assistant Turner stated the parking lots at the park will be shut down on Wednesday as they are being chip/sealed and work is ongoing at the Kiddie Land portion of the park.
CITY ATTORNEY – DEREK MCCULLOUGH
City Attorney McCullough no report.
AIRPORT MANAGER – PARIS PENNINGTON
Airport Manager Pennington absent.
POLICE CHIEF – MIKE MCWILLIAMS
Police Chief McWilliams stated the Touch-a-Truck Event was wonderful and the short notice organizing as well as the attendance was remarkable with over $7000.00 being raised, which will go towards the Shop with a Cop/Fireman Event.
Police Chief McWilliams reported there were no issues with the fireworks from a police standpoint. Police Chief McWilliams stated the response time to community after the storms was very efficient and he is very proud of all the hard work of all the departments involved with the clean-up.
FIRE CHIEF – FRANCES SPETH
Fire Chief Speth reiterated the Touch-a-Truck Event was very nice and thanked Rod Rodriguez for cooking on his grills for the event.
Fire Chief Speth stated the communication during the storm clean-up went very well and the streets were cleared of debris in a very timely manner.
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR – MIKE GIDCUMB
Public Works Director Gidcumb thanked WEMA for their wonderful response/assistance during the storm clean-up and expressed how proud he is of the public works crew as well as all the entities that worked together on the clean-up.
BUSINESS MOTIONS
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Meador seconded to send letter to Republic Services to extend contract for five years, at this five-year rate. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Meeks 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, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded to adjourn the meeting. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 4:20 pm
https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/11601/07-10-2023_minutes.pdf
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