City of Mount Carmel City Council met Aug. 7.
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 – 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 Meador seconded to approve the minutes of the meeting held on July 24, 2023. All present voted by roll vote. Commissioner Ikemire, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Judge acknowledged Ed McPherson of McPherson Outdoors, who presented to the council a rendering of the proposed plans for a property at the north west corner of West Third and Walnut Streets. Mr. McPherson stated the three houses on the property will be torn down and asked council approval for the construction of a building on the property as well as the placement of a digital sign.
Mayor Judge acknowledged Wesley Bell of Robinson Outdoors, who was in attendance to rescind the placement of a digital sign at Ninth and Market Streets and to request approval for the placement of the sign at 915 Walnut Street instead.
Mayor Judge acknowledged Cannon Miller with the Craze 9U Softball Team, who was seeking approval for the team to collect donations at the intersection of Thirteen and Market Streets. Mayor Judge advised Cannon to contact City Administrative Assistant Turner for an available date and reminded that children are not allowed to collect the donations.
Mayor Judge acknowledged Pat Stanfield, who stated her family was recently evicted from their river camp and asked the reason for the eviction. City Administrative Assistant Turner interjected by stating the river camps are city owned property and the city is also liable for the property; therefore, the city is having people removed from the river camps until the council determines which ones to sell and which ones to keep. Mayor Judge addressed Ms. Stansfield by stating once the city reviews the surveys of the camps to determine the property lines of each camp, the river lots will be put up for sell through the bid process, which will give her the opportunity to legally purchase a river lot.
Mayor Judge reported school will be starting soon and asked residents to please aware while travelling around the school zone areas. Mayor Judge wished a great school year to everyone attending school or college in Wabash Couty. Mayor Judge welcomed students from other areas that are attending Wabash Valley College.
Mayor Judge stated the April 8th, 2024 Eclipse Group will be meeting soon to plan an event at Merchants Park as well as the Mount Carmel Airport.
Mayor Judge reported this is the last week for the city pool to be open with the last day being Sunday, August 13th. Mayor Judge expressed his appreciation to all the pool employees as well as to everyone who came out to support the pool this summer.
Mayor Judge reiterated at the last meeting the decision was made to place liens on the former AT&T property as well as the former Long John Silvers property. Mayor Judge stated he was successful in contacting individuals, who are willing to work out payments terms for the outstanding bills incurred by the city for having to maintain the properties. Mayor Judge asked for the direction from the council in moving forward with the lien process or possibly working out a payment process. After a discussion, the council decided to work out a payment process at this time.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS:
COMMISSIONER TYSON MEADOR – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS
Commissioner Meador reported, over the last two weeks, the street department has almost finished picking up all the brush from the storm in July; the mowing of city properties is back in full swing; the fog seal of the chip/seal streets will begin this week; and work has started back at Kiddie Land at the park.
COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Ikemire reported, in the last two weeks, revenues totaled $62,959.00 and expenses totaled $39,982.00. Commissioner Ikemire added the swimming pool did really well this year with over eight thousand in attendance and over $34,000.00 in revenue.
Commissioner Ikemire announced Kerry Yarbor has been hired as the Senior Citizens Director.
COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – WATER AND SEWER
Commissioner Meeks absent.
COMMISSIONER SUSAN ZIMMERMAN – FIRE, HEALTH & SAFETY, GARBAGE, CITY HALL AND CIVIL DEFENSE
Commissioner Zimmerman reported, over the last two weeks, the fire department responded to eight calls; held the large flag display for a funeral; brought the “smoke house” out of retirement and got it back in working order for the Wabash County Health Department’s Back to School Bash; assisted at Ag Days; and helped serve at the Lunch Wagon.
Commissioner Zimmerman reiterated the brush department is back on schedule for the most part.
Commissioner Zimmerman reminded residents that the garbage totes are only supposed to be sitting out for a twenty-four-hour period for the garbage pick-up service.
CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RYAN TURNER
City Administrative Assistant Turner stated the insurance company has reimbursed the city $65,000.00 for the storm damage in July and the total cost, which includes the all overtime for the clean-up, is approximately $80,000.00. Mayor Judge interjected by adding the dugouts at the Fourth Street Ballpark were damaged during the storm and the insurance company reimbursed the city $10,000.00 for the construction of new dugouts. Mayor Judge stated the estimated cost for new dugouts is approximately $13,000.00, per Mount Carmel Little League and asked approval to donate ARPA funds to make up the $3000.00 difference.
City Administrative Assistant Turner reiterated a resolution had approved the sale of the property located at 502 N. Market Street by bid process and reported one bid was submitted for the property. City Administrative Assistant Turner stated an ordinance has to be adapted, which allows for the accepting of the bid and asked council approval of Ordinance 2093.
City Administrative Assistant Turner reported Ordinance 2094 allows for the sale of the property located at 615 N. Cherry Street, per the rules to be set forth by the council and stated this meeting constitutes the first reading of the ordinance.
City Administrative Assistant Turner presented the one bid for 502 N. Market Street to Mayor Judge, who opened and read the bid submitted by Dan Schonert in the amount of $2800.00. The council voted to accept the bid.
CITY ATTORNEY – DEREK MCCULLOUGH
City Attorney McCullough reported he has been working with Public Works Director Gidcumb on dilapidated houses in the city and he has been working on ordinance violations, as well.
AIRPORT MANAGER – PARIS PENNINGTON
Airport Manager Pennington reported the airport had $5266.00 in fuel sales and $1420.00 in hangar rent for the month of July.
POLICE CHIEF – MIKE MCWILLIAMS
Police Chief McWilliams reiterated a meeting was held with all the entities involved with emergency response for the sole purpose of improving response time in the event of an emergency and it was a true testament on how well everyone involved works together.
Police Chief McWilliams stated there is still non-compliance with golf carts/UTVs driving on state highways, particularly Walnut and Ninth Streets; residents are also not properly displaying the “slow moving” emblems on the back of the golf carts/UTV’s; and the permits need to be updated each year. Police Chief McWilliams added the bicycle ordinance complaints are almost nil.
FIRE CHIEF – FRANCES SPETH
Fire Chief Speth absent.
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR – MIKE GIDCUMB
Public Works Director Gidcumb stated the fog seal was originally set for tomorrow and Wednesday, however due to the rain it has been pushed back to Thursday and Friday, weather permitting.
Public Works Director Gidcumb reported the crews have been really busy trying to finally get everything cleaned up from the storms and thankfully they are back on a routine schedule.
OLD BUSINESS
Mayor Judge stated the request for the contract extension has been submitted to Republic Services; they have accepted the request and it is under review at this time.
BUSINESS MOTIONS
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded to approve the request from McPherson Outdoors for the property located at West Third and Walnut Streets. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Ikemire and Zimmerman voted Aye. Commissioner Meador abstained.
Commissioner Zimmerman motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to rescind the orginal sign request at Ninth and Market Streets; to move forward with a digital sign at Ninth and Walnut Streets to placed at the north side of Ninth and Walnut Street. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Ikemire, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Meador seconded to adopt Ordinance 2093, which allows for the sale of 502 N. Market Street. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Ikemire, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Meador motioned and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded to adopt Ordinance 2094, which allows for the sale of 615 N. Cherry Street, per rules set forth by the city council. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Ikemire, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Meador seconded to approve the bid of $2800.00 and to accept the bid made by Dan Schonert. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Ikemire, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Zimmerman motioned and Commissioner Ikemire 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 Ikemire, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Zimmerman motioned and Commissioner Meador seconded to adjourn the meeting. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 4:43 pm
https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/11603/08-07-2023_minutes.pdf
Alerts Sign-up