City of Mount Carmel City Council met Aug. 21.
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 Meador seconded to approve the minutes of the meeting held on August 7, 2023. All present voted by roll vote. Commissioner Meeks, Ikemire, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Judge acknowledged Shamber Weiss of the Women’s Softball League, who was asking permission to use the Girls Softball Field on West Fourth Street. Ms. Weiss stated the season usually runs from the end of July to the end of October with games only being played on Thursday nights. The council granted permission for the use of the field.
Mayor Judge reported the Senior Citizens Center had a “hick-up” last week but everyone pitched in to help out and the meals were provided to all the home delivery people.
Mayor Judge stated if a resident hires a tree service contractor, that contractor is responsible for the clean-up of the tree not the city’s brush crew. Mayor Judge added if a resident owns a property but is not paying a water bill then they are not paying for brush pick-up however, the brush harbor is available for the convenience of the individual to haul their own brush. Mayor Judge emphasized everyone’s cooperation is greatly appreciated.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS:
COMMISSIONER TYSON MEADOR – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS
Commissioner Meador reported, over the last two weeks, the street department worked on the removal of some dangerous trees; cut down some low-lying limbs; filled pot holes; assisted the water maintenance department with a water line project; continued the mowing of city properties; and performed routine maintenance on equipment.
Commissioner Meador stated there has been some recent issues with vandalism in the restrooms at the city park and he reminded residents that the community has spent a lot of money as well as time to have working restrooms at the park. Commissioner Meador asked that anyone visiting the park to please watch their children and if anyone witnesses the restrooms being damaged to please report it. Commissioner Meador stated there are cameras on the outside of the restroom building, not on the inside, which helps with the vandalism problems. Mayor Judge added the children that recently vandalized the restrooms were identified; a meeting was held with the parents along with the children; letters of apology were written to the city by the children; and the children will help with some community work at the park rather that have the parents pay for the damages.
Commissioner Meador acknowledged Mayor Judge, who stated the city had purchased a front-end loader four years ago, however due to the extensive use during the clean-up after the storms in July, the loader is need of repairs for the estimated cost of $21,000.00. Mayor Judge asked council approval for the purchase of another front-end loader at a purchase price of $75,000.00 with a $10,000.00 trade-in of the current loader, which would make the final cost $65,000.00. Mayor Judge stated the purchase is not included in the current budget. After discussing the front-end loader, the council approved the purchase.
COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.
Commissioner Ikemire thanked Mayor Judge for stepping up and cooking at the Senior Citizens Center last week along with everyone else who assisted.
Commissioner Ikemire reported, in the last two weeks, receipts totaled $289,891.00 and expenditures totaled $62,407.00.
COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – WATER AND SEWER
Commissioner Meeks reported the wastewater plant received the back-up pumps for the lift stations; swapped the second chlorine cylinder and performed regular maintenance at the plant.
Commissioner Meeks stated the water maintenance department has been performing its day-to-day operations.
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 fourteen calls with three additional call-outs that were cancelled while in route; assisted with the Youth-In-Action’s Tri-Mudder Event; and trained on hazmat product containment during their regular meeting.
Commissioner Zimmerman reminded the brush harbor/recycling center has new hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Monday and Friday as well as 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday. Commissioner Zimmerman also reminded the trash service will run as scheduled on Monday, September 4th, which is Labor Day.
CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RYAN TURNER
City Administrative Assistant Turner presented to the council some criteria to consider for the proposed sell of the property at 615 N. Cherry Street.
City Administrative Assistant Turner reported Kieffer Brothers Construction have submitted price increases for the new water treatment plant, as follows - # 3 request is a concrete price increase in the amount of $26,148.55; #4 request is the rebar price increase in the amount of $44,115.07; #5 request is an electrical cost increase in the amount of $172,611.60, for a grand total of $242,875.22. City Administrative Assistant Turner stated Kieffer Brothers believes this will be the last material price increase due to the stage of where they are with the construction.
CITY ATTORNEY – DEREK MCCULLOUGH
City Attorney McCullough no report.
POLICE CHIEF – MIKE MCWILLIAMS
Police Chief McWilliams stated “back to school” went well with no issues to report.
Police Chief McWilliams report the emergency response group met last Thursday and they will continue to meet on a monthly basis. Police Chief McWilliams reported Wabash County E.M.A. Coordinator Mark Majors has formed a partnership with the EUM Church to establish a shelter in the time of need. Police Chief McWilliams stated the response group have been revamping their radio frequencies for better communication. Police Chief McWilliams thanked all the department heads as well as Mount Carmel Public Utility for taking the time to come to the meetings and for working together on emergency response.
FIRE CHIEF – FRANCES SPETH
Fire Chief Speth reported three fire engines, the ladder truck and the tank truck have been pump certified, which is required every year and the department will start testing the fire hose within the next couple weeks.
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR – MIKE GIDCUMB
Public Works Director Gidcumb stated, in the next few weeks, the parking areas of the one hundred blocks of East Fourth and East Sixth will asphalted. Public Works Director Gidcumb acknowledged Dave Dallas, who reported he was just informed today that the scheduled date for the East Fourth area is Monday, August 28th and Tuesday, August 29th is the date for the East Sixth Street area. Mr. Dallas stated the contractor is asking if the portion of East Fourth Street from the police department alley to Market Street be blocked off for safety purposes and he would contact the police department as well as the courthouse regarding the parking on Monday. Mr. Dallas reported this asphalt work should end the summer maintenance program and he thanked the street department for its assistance, which greatly helped with the flow of the work.
Public Works Director Gidcumb reported work is continuing at Kiddie Land in the park with quite a bit of work being accomplished today.
OLD BUSINESS
Mayor Judge reported he has not heard back yet from Corporate Republic Services regarding the garbage contract extension.
Mayor Judge stated this meeting constitutes the second reading of Ordinance 2094 – the selling of the property at 615 N. Cherry Street and asked council approval of the ordinance. Mayor Judge opened the meeting for discussion of the criteria for the selling of the property, that City Administrative Assistant Turner had presented earlier in the meeting. After council discussion, the following criteria was agreed upon: the parcels shall not be separated; 1500 square feet is the minimum size requirement of the house; two years is the allotted time to start the project; and the house must be stick built not a manufactured home.
BUSINESS MOTIONS
Commissioner Meador motioned and Commissioner Meeks seconded to purchase a used front-end loader at the cost of $65,000.00, includes trade-in of $10,000.00. Waive second reading. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Meeks and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to approve price increase #3, #4, #5 from Kieffer Brothers Construction Company. Total is $242,875.22. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Meador 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, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Meador motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to place 615 N. Cherry Street up for sale. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Meador seconded to move to Executive Session. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioner Meeks, Ikemire, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Regular session of the council meeting recessed at 4:47 pm for executive session
Commissioner Meeks motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to exit Executive Session. All present voted by roll vote. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.
Executive session ended at 5:29 pm. Regular session resumed with all council members present
Commissioner Zimmerman motioned and Commissioner Meador seconded to adjourn the meeting. All present voted Aye by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 5:30 pm
https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/11604/08-21-2023_minutes.pdf
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