SE Illinois News

City of Mount Carmel City Council met Jan. 8.

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, Public Works Director Michael Gidcumb

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mayor Judge requested a motion to approve the minutes of the last council meeting.

Commissioner Zimmerman motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to approve the minutes of the meeting held on December 27, 2023. All present voted by roll vote. Commissioner Ikemire, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.

MAYOR’S COMMENTS

Mayor Judge acknowledged Wabash General Hospital President/CEO Karissa Turner, who was in attendance representing the Mount Carmel Rotary Club. Ms. Turner stated a presentation at a recent Rotary Club meeting brought forth the need for new kitchen equipment at the Wabash County Senior Citizens Center at the cost of $23,000.00. Ms. Turner presented a donation check to the council in the amount of $22,700.00 from Wabash General Hospital for the new equipment, in return for the donation, the hospital will begin offering wellness checks at the Senior Citizens Center the third Thursday of every month between 10am and 11:30am. Mayor Judge thanked the hospital for the generous donation on behalf of the council and himself.

Mayor Judge reiterated an ordinance was passed last year regarding abandoned/vacant properties in the city and stated the city will be contacting owners of such properties in order to keep them from getting to the point of needing to be torn down. Mayor Judge reported he obtained a list from the water billing clerk of all pulled or idle water meters, in order to assist with the information regarding those properties and asked if an owner of any abandoned/vacant property has questions or concerns to please fill free to reach out to him or Public Works Director Mike Gidcumb.

Mayor Judge reported Congressman Mike Bost was in Mount Carmel to speak at the Rotary Club meeting today and afterwards, they discussed the city swimming pool project as well as other community needs. Mayor Judge added he will be attending a meeting on Thursday with the Southern Illinois Mayor’s Board of Director along with Governor Pritzker to discuss local projects in Mount Carmel as well as Wabash County.

Mayor Judge announced on the second Saturday of each month the Free Masons will be holding a free breakfast fundraiser for the community at the Wabash County Senior Citizens Center from 7:00 am to 9:00 am.

Mayor Judge reported there are concerns regarding the intersection of East Fifth and Pear Streets, due to a recent accident. Mayor Judge concurred with Police Chief McWilliams and City Administrative Assistant Turner as a traffic study had been conducted at the intersection last year, both affirmed the study concluded there was not a need for stop signs. Mayor Judge asked the council to consider the request and they would readdress the placement of stop signs at a future council meeting.

Mayor Judge stated he will be giving his “State of the City” address at the January 22nd council meeting.

COMMISSIONER REPORTS:

COMMISSIONER TYSON MEADOR – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS

Commissioner Meador reported, over the last two weeks, the street department prepped the equipment for snow; took down the Christmas decorations along Market Street; continued the work on Division Street; assisted the brush department with the leaf collection and cut down a few trees at the city park.

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 $139,059.00 and expenditures totaled $25,748.00 with most of the revenue coming from replacement tax and rural fire tax.

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 past two weeks, the fire department responded to eleven runs and held a work day on December 30th to put the new rescue truck into service.

Commissioner Zimmerman stated the leaf collection program has been completed for this year and anyone with leaves still in their yards may bag them for pick-up by the regular brush crew.

CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RYAN TURNER

City Administrative Assistant Turner reminded city hall will not be open next Monday, January 15th due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday and starting next week city hall will now be open during the lunch hour.

CITY ATTORNEY – DEREK MCCULLOUGH

City Attorney McCullough absent.

AIRPORT MANAGER – LUIS GARCIA

Airport Manager Garica reported all is running well at the airport and are prepared for inclement weather.

POLICE CHIEF – MIKE MCWILLIAMS

Police Chief McWilliams stated he completed the 2023 activity summary for the police department and he gave an overview of the report.

FIRE CHIEF – FRANCIS SPETH

Fire Chief Speth reiterated the new rescue truck is now in service and the old rescue truck is being cleaned up in order to put it up for sell.

PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR – MIKE GIDCUMB

Public Works Director Gidcumb gave the public works year end report and stated all the projects were able to be completed due to the restructuring of the public works department.

WABASH COUNTY E.M.A.

Wabash County E.M.A. Representative Rhonda Banks reported vehicles are being prepared for the winter months and a storm spotting class is being held on February 1st at 6:00 pm at the city’s public works building.

BUSINESS MOTIONS

Commissioner Meador 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 Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Meador seconded to move to Executive Session. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioner Ikemire, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.

Regular session of the council meeting recessed at 4:30 pm for executive session

Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Meador seconded to exit executive session. All present voted by roll vote. Commissioners Ikemire, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.

Executive session ended at 4:38 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 4:39 pm

https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/11667/01-08-2024_minutes.pdf