SE Illinois News

City of Mount Carmel City Council met April 15.

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 April 1, 2024. All present voted by roll vote. Commissioner Meeks, Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted aye.

MAYOR’S COMMENTS

Mayor Judge stated there were nice events held around town and at the airport for the solar eclipse. We received several positive comments on our community.

Mayor Judge stated the city budget is being worked on and should be ready for a vote at the April 29, 2024 meeting.

Mayor Judge reported the State of Illinois has declared the south part of Mt. Carmel a food store desert. Through a grant, there are funds we can apply for to start a new grocery store in that area.

COMMISSIONER REPORTS:

COMMISSIONER TYSON MEADOR – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS

Commissioner Meador reported that over the last two weeks, the street department has been doing maintenance work on equipment to get things ready for spring. They filled potholes and cleaned up downed trees and branches from recent storms and winds.

COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS

Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.

Commissioner Ikemire reported that over the last two weeks, receipts totaled $28,687.00 with total expenditures of $85,894.00, putting our revenues at 105% of budget. With two weeks to go, everything is close or on target to be on the good side of the budget.

COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – WATER AND SEWER

Commissioner Meeks stated that the water/sewer maintenance department has been performing routine maintenance, mowing, and weed eating.

COMMISSIONER SUSAN ZIMMERMAN – FIRE, HEALTH & SAFETY, GARBAGE, CITY HALL AND CIVIL DEFENSE

Commissioner Zimmerman thanked the residents of Mt Carmel for getting their trash out early last Monday. She stated the big trash pickup is now finished and asked that any items that were not picked up by Republic be disposed of properly.

Commissioner Zimmerman reported that over the past two weeks, the fire department responded to 10 calls. They also assisted with the eclipse. They have completed their bi-monthly training.

CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RYAN TURNER

City Administrative Assistant Turner stated the John Deere bid for the new mower is unacceptable as it is not equipped to fit our needs. He said MTI out of Missouri has a bid of $33,642.00 on a mower to fit our needs. It should be ready in August. We should be fine for this season with temporary repairs to the two mowers we currently have.

City Administrative Assistant Turner stated that the VFW had requested permission to stand on the corners and collect for Poppy Day.

City Administrative Assistant Turner reported that he received an application for Wabash Valley Pride Day, which will be held on June 22, 2024, at Merchant’s Park. We will be shutting down the street from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. that evening for the food trucks that will be set up for the event.

City Administrative Assistant Turner reported that they are working on a verbiage ordinance cleanup. The rates and changes section of Ordinance 2105, Article 2, will be changed to directly place where the water and sewer fees will be split as defined in the ordinance.

City Administrative Assistant Turner stated that some park equipment, specifically Kiwanis Park equipment, has been taken out recently. Wabash General Hospital has donated $5,000.00 to replace the park equipment.

CITY ATTORNEY – DEREK MCCULLOUGH

City Attorney McCullough no report.

AIRPORT MANAGER – LUIS GARCIA

Airport Manager Garica reported 56 planes from all over the country at the airport for the eclipse. He reported sales that day of $3,100.00.

POLICE CHIEF – MIKE MCWILLIAMS

Police Chief McWilliams stated the eclipse was fortunately uneventful for his department.

Police Chief McWilliams attended the benefit for Katelyn Brown and praised the community for showing up and having a great event for her.

Police Chief McWilliams reported that a new squad card should be out on the road this week.

FIRE CHIEF – FRANCIS SPETH

Fire Chief Speth has no report.

PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR – MIKE GIDCUMB

Public Works Director Gidcumb was absent.

WABASH COUNTY E.M.A.

Wabash County E.M.A. Representative Rhonda Banks reported that their department had a great day for the solar eclipse.

BUSINESS MOTIONS

Commissioner Ikemire motioned, and Commissioner Meador seconded, to accept MTI’s bid for $33,642.00. All present voted by roll call. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted aye.

Commissioner Zimmerman motioned, and Commissioner Meeks seconded, to approve the Consent Agenda. The agenda approved the payment 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 Meeks seconded to adjourn the meeting. All present voted Aye by voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 4:17 pm.

https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/media/13481