City of Mount Carmel City Council met July 24.
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, Tyson Meador, Susan Zimmerman
Also, Present: City Administrative Assistant Ryan Turner
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mayor Judge requested a motion to approve the minutes of the last council meeting.
Commissioner Zimmerman motioned and Commissioner Meador seconded to approve the minutes of the meeting held on July 10, 2023. All present voted by roll vote. Commissioner Meeks, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Judge acknowledged John Clancy, who was in attendance to announce the Children’s Summer Theatre event at the on Elks Club on Wednesday, July 26th through Saturday, July 29th.
Mayor Judge announced the City of Mount Carmel Airport has been awarded the Airport Improvement Project Grant through the Illinois Department of Transportation in the amount of $498,750.00. Mayor Judge stated the grant monies will be used to install new led runway lighting fixtures and the airport is required to pay a five percent fee with that amount being $26,250.00. Mayor Judge thanked City Administrative Assistant Turner and Airport Manager Penington for their work in applying for the grant.
Mayor Judge recommended to the council that the hours of brush harbor be changed to 9:00 to 5:00 on Mondays and Fridays with the Saturday hours remaining at 9:00 to 3:00. After council discussion, it was decided to change the hours effective Monday, August 7th.
Mayor Judge announced the Wabash County Retail Merchants Committee Duck Swim will be held on Tuesday, July 25th from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the city swimming pool.
Mayor Judge reminded the Ag Days Festival is August 2nd through the 5th.
Mayor Judge stated, with all the lifeguards at city swimming pool being high school or college students, the pool will close Sunday, August 13th for the season. Mayor Judge thanked all the businesses that sponsored the free swims; all the employees; as well as everyone who came out to the pool this season as the attendance was very good. Mayor Judge added the Wabash County Shelter Buddies Dog Swim will then be held on Monday, August 14th.
Mayor Judge thanked the public works department on their outstanding efforts with all the storm cleanup and stated it could be the end of August before the regular brush routes start back again. Mayor Judge apologized to the residents whose brush piles have not been picked up yet and stated close to a thousand loads of brush have been taken to the city’s brush harbor.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS:
COMMISSIONER TYSON MEADOR – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS
Commissioner Meador reported the street department is still busy picking up trees and are doing an excellent job. Commissioner Meador asked the residents to please be patience with the clean-up.
Commissioner Meador stated the chip/seal work on the city streets has been completed and mowing of city properties is ongoing.
COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials. Commissioner Ikemire absent.
COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – WATER AND SEWER
Commissioner Meeks reported all the departments are running smoothly and are performing the general day to day operations.
COMMISSIONER SUSAN ZIMMERMAN – FIRE, HEALTH & SAFETY, GARBAGE, CITY HALL AND CIVIL DEFENSE
Commissioner Zimmerman reiterated the crews are still working on picking up the brush piles and reminded residents that the brush harbor is open if anyone wishes to haul their own brush. Commissioner Zimmerman welcomed Matt, the new attendant at the brush harbor and asked for patience while he learns the ropes.
Commissioner Zimmerman reported, over the last two weeks, the fire department responded to nine calls; conducted training with local businesses; and several firefighters attended the vehicle extrication course.
CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RYAN TURNER
City Administrative Assistant Turner asked council approval to place liens on the former AT&T property as well as the former Long Johns Silver’s property as the city has been maintaining them on and off for two years.
City Administrative Assistant Turner reported the owners of two campers on River Road had been notified to vacate the city owned property within seventy-two hours and unfortunately, they have failed to do so. City Administrative Assistant Turner stated the next step is to take the owners to court and asked council approval to move forward with that process.
City Administrative Assistant Turner reiterated the selling of the city’s property at 502 N. Market Street had been discussed at previous council meetings and legal counsel advised that under Illinois law in order to sell the property, it has to be put up for bid. City Administrative Assistant Turner stated, after conferring with TIF advisors, the city may set forth in a resolution the required use/stipulations of the property when put up for bid since it is in a TIF District. City Administrative Assistant Turner asked council approval for Resolution 700 to allow the selling of the property through the bid process with the required stipulations. After council discussion, the stipulations of the resolution agreed upon were as follows: a building must be built within nine months of the purchase date with a value of at least $100,000.00 and the city retains the right to refuse any bids.
CITY ATTORNEY – DEREK MCCULLOUGH
City Attorney McCullough absent.
AIRPORT MANAGER – PARIS PENNINGTON
Airport Manager Pennington reiterated the airport is receiving the Airport Improvement Project Grant that Mayor Judge had reported on and had no further report.
POLICE CHIEF – MIKE MCWILLIAMS
Police Chief McWilliams reported there was an arrest in the ten hundred block of Pear Street of an individual that was selling narcotics, which was the result of a multi-year investigation. Police Chief McWilliams stated the partnership with the drug task force was key in the prosecution of the individual that led to the charge of a Class X Meth delivery with a $50,000.00 cash bond.
Police Chief McWilliams stated the night shift officers have started checking the doors of businesses during certain times of the night and four unsecure buildings were found.
Police Chief McWilliams reported Mount Carmel Public Utility is hosting a meeting with the Emergency Services Department, the fire department along with the police department to discuss “what went right and what went wrong” after the last storm, in order to continue to improve the response in times of need and emergencies.
FIRE CHIEF – FRANCES SPETH
Fire Chief Speth reported the fire department sent support to the Wayne County Fire Department as they had a young firefighter who was killed in an accident. Fire Chief Speth asked for prayers for that family.
Fire Chief Speth stated an email was received from ISO regarding the retesting of the flow of the water hydrants, which is part of the required certification and also after some additional hazmat training as well as additional drivers training, the fire department received the Class Four Certification.
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR – MIKE GIDCUMB
Public Works Director Gidcumb stated WEMA will assisting with traffic control on the state highways on Saturday while brush is being picked up.
Public Works Director Gidcumb reminded that barricades will be put up along Market Street the evening of Monday, July 31st for the Ag Days Festival.
Public Works Director Gidcumb affirmed the brush pickup is still ongoing.
OLD BUSINESS
Mayor Judge stated he has contacted Republic Services regarding the required information that is needed for the letter of extension of the current trash contract.
BUSINESS MOTIONS
Commissioner Meeks motioned and Commissioner Meador seconded to adopt a resolution to sell 502 N. Market Street at bid. Winner of the property will have to abide by Resolution 700. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Meeks, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Zimmerman motioned and Commissioner Meeks 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, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Meador motioned and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded to adjourn the meeting. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 4:28 pm
https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/11602/07-24-2023_minutes.pdf
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