SE Illinois News

City of Mount Carmel City Council met Sept. 3.

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

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mayor Judge requested a motion to approve the council meeting minutes held on August 19, 2024.

Commissioner Ikemire motioned, and Commissioner Meador seconded, to approve the meeting minutes held on August 5, 2024. All present voted by roll call. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted aye.

MAYOR’S COMMENTS

Mayor Judge talked briefly about a $2,500.00 grant we received for the city pool. He stated he is currently looking at a couple of other grants.

Mayor Judge said he recently met with a group interested in starting a skate park in Mt. Carmel. He was able to give them guidance on grants and funding that may be available. The group plans to present their plans to the council in the future.

Mayor Judge stated that the annual dog swim is at the city pool tonight.

Mayor Judge announced that there will be 13 river camps up for bid. It will be an online auction format with Mobley and Grant. The bids should take place around the first part of October.

Mayor Judge was happy to announce that he could hand out the $10,000.00 retention grant checks to our police officers last week. He thanked the state of Illinois and the Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission for teaming up with him to get this grant.

Mayor Judge stated that the Farm Lease Auction was held at 12:00 today. Three people were in attendance. Five-year leases were set up for two areas. Ed Timberlake was the high bidder at $275.00 per acre for the 17 acres out by Motorad. The 520 acres at the Airport were leased back to Ivers Farms for $315.00 an acre.

COMMISSIONER REPORTS:

COMMISSIONER TYSON MEADOR – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS

Commissioner Meador reported that the street department has been mowing for the last two weeks. They helped clean up brush at the Golf Course and are mostly finished with the chip-and-seal and fog-sealing projects.

COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS

Commissioner Ikemire reported that we had $279,908.73 in receipts and $302,772.08 in expenditures. He said we are on target for our revenue budget.

COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – WATER AND SEWER

Commissioner Meeks thanked Commissioner Meador and the public works department for cleaning up fallen trees at the Golf Course.

Commissioner Meeks stated that the water and sewer departments are getting things done, and everything is running smoothly.

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

Commissioner Zimmerman reported that Republic Services picks up garbage every Monday unless that Monday would be Christmas.

Commissioner Zimmerman stated that big trash pick-up will start on October 7. She said there are stipulations on what will be picked up.

Commissioner Zimmerman reported that the fire department had 11 events.

Commissioner Zimmerman said the fire department will begin their annual fire hose testing this weekend.

Commissioner Zimmerman reported that the fire department has received two grants: one for $100,000.00 for an exhaust system and one for $1,000.00 for equipment.

CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RYAN TURNER

City Administrative Assistant Ryan Turner reported a zoning meeting tonight at 5:00. Ed McPherson has requested a special council meeting, which was set for Friday, September 6, at 11:15.

City Administrative Assistant Ryan Turner reported on Resolution 707. This is for the $3,000,000.00 grant for uptown. To proceed, the council has to accept a resolution stating that they support the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program.

City Administrative Assistant Ryan Turner announced the second reading of Ordinance 2111. This ordinance went through the zoning board but was not a unanimous vote, so it had to go through the council. It concerns placing a manufactured home at 202 W. 10th Street.

City Administrative Assistant Ryan Turner stated that the city leaf truck needed to be replaced. He asked for a motion to proceed with looking to purchase a truck.

CITY ATTORNEY – DEREK MCCULLOUGH

City Attorney McCullough – no report.

AIRPORT MANAGER – LUIS GARCIA

Airport Manager Garica reported that they are mowing and keeping up the general maintenance at the airport.

POLICE CHIEF – MIKE MCWILLIAMS

Police Chief McWilliams is absent.

FIRE CHIEF – FRANCIS SPETH

Fire Chief Speth is absent.

PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR – MIKE GIDCUMB

Public Works Director Gidcumb announced an alleyway will be poured on Division Street tomorrow.

Public Works Director Gidcumb announced they will begin work to the Cherry Hills subdivision in the next few weeks.

WABASH COUNTY E.M.A.

Wabash County E.M.A. Representative Rhonda Banks is absent.

BUSINESS MOTIONS

Commissioner Ikemire motioned, and Commissioner Meeks seconded, on Resolution 707 to support an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program. All present voted by roll call. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted aye.

Commissioner Meeks motioned, and Commissioner Meador seconded, to purchase a new leaf truck for less than $35,000.00. All present voted by roll call. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted aye.

Commissioner Zimmerman motioned, and Commissioner Ikemire seconded, to approve the consent agenda. All present voted by roll call. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted aye.

Commissioner Zimmerman motioned, and Commissioner Ikemire seconded, to enter into an executive meeting at 4:27 p.m. to discuss the sale of property and current contract negotiations. All present voted by roll call. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted aye.

Commissioner Meador motioned, and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded, to move from the executive session to the regular session at 4:50 pm. All present voted Aye by voice vote.

Commissioner Ikemire motioned, and Commissioner Meeks seconded, to adjourn the meeting today. All present voted Aye by voice vote.

The meeting adjourned at 4:51 pm

https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/media/13631