SE Illinois News

City of Mount Carmel City Council met Sept. 16.

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 September 3, 2024.

Commissioner Ikemire motioned, and Commissioner Meador seconded, to approve the meeting minutes held on September 3, 2024. All present voted by roll call. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted aye.

Mayor Judge requested a motion to approve the council meeting minutes held on September 6, 2024.

Commissioner Meeks motioned, and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded, to approve the meeting minutes held on September 6, 2024. All present voted by roll call. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted aye.

MAYOR’S COMMENTS

Mayor Judge wished the Aces good luck in Friday night's Homecoming Game and welcomed all alumni back for the festivities.

Mayor Judge reported that the river camps are marked off and will be up for auction with Mobley and Grant on their website sometime in October.

Mayor Judge stated that a public meeting will be held on September 26 at 6:00 p.m. for those interested in learning more about the pool project.

Mayor Judge stated that several still need to fill out the lead survey. You can do this on the City of Mt. Carmel website or pick up a form at City Hall.

COMMISSIONER REPORTS:

COMMISSIONER TYSON MEADOR – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS

Commissioner Meador reported that the street department has cleaned up, mowed, and marked the river camps in preparation for the upcoming auction. They picked up a new truck for the leaf route. They have started working at Cherry Hills and have cleaned up a tree.

COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS

Commissioner Ikemire reported that we had $3914,065.59 in receipts and $339,609.37 in expenditures.

COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – WATER AND SEWER

Commissioner Meeks reported that a pump was pulled and replaced at the Mulberry station. The pool has been drained. Both the water and sewer departments continue their regular maintenance.

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

Commissioner Zimmerman reported that over the past two weeks, the fire department has had 8 incidents. They completed hose testing and have been reviewing medical protocols and reports.

Commissioner Zimmerman said the city will have our big trash pick-up starting October 7.

CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RYAN TURNER

City Administrative Assistant Ryan Turner reported that Motorad is working with the AEA and wishes to expand its business. The city owns the property at 1520 W. 9th Street, which consists of approximately 2 acres. Mr. Turner stated we could sell the property to AEA. He has ordered an appraisal.

City Administrative Assistant Ryan Turner discussed the Morton Solar power project. As we already have large projects going on, it was decided to table this for a while.

City Administrative Assistant Ryan Turner asked the council if they would consider selling the Snap On property as a city resident had asked him.

City Administrative Assistant Ryan Turner reported a change in trash pick-up for the 1300 block of Mulberry and College Drive. Republic Services is no longer able to turn its truck around in the alley, so residents are asked to put their trash out front.

City Administrative Assistant Ryan Turner stated that yard waste is not to be placed in the blue trash totes, and Republic Services will not dump it if it is.

City Administrative Assistant Ryan Turner reported that in addition to the river camps, Mobley and Grant will list the city-owned property at 615 N Cherry.

CITY ATTORNEY – DEREK MCCULLOUGH

City Attorney McCullough – no report.

AIRPORT MANAGER – LUIS GARCIA

Airport Manager Garica reported they are performing general maintenance and hanging new signs at the airport.

POLICE CHIEF – MIKE MCWILLIAMS

Police Chief McWilliams addressed a perceived threat to school districts on social media last week. After the police department's thorough investigation, it was discovered that nothing was tied to Wabash County. He expressed his appreciation for the school district's being very forthcoming and helpful with this investigation.

FIRE CHIEF – FRANCIS SPETH

Fire Chief Speth is absent.

PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR – MIKE GIDCUMB

Public Works Director Gidcumb asked city residents to stop at the shed and check their brush before dumping it. The IEPA says we have to inspect what gets taken back there.

WABASH COUNTY E.M.A.

Wabash County E.M.A. Representative Rhonda Banks attended the EMA summit in Springfield last week.

BUSINESS MOTIONS

Commissioner Meeks motioned, and Commissioner Ikemire seconded, to sell to AEA the property of the City of Mt. Carmel. The property is next to the Motorad Property (1520 W. 9th.) and has approximately 2 acres. The sale price is $25,000.00. All present voted by roll call. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted aye.

Commissioner Meeks motioned, and Commissioner Ikemire seconded, to allow Cherry Street, a city-owned property, to be placed for sale through an auction with a starting bid of $15,000.00. The property is a double lot known as 615 N. Cherry Street. All present voted by roll call. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted aye.

Commissioner Ikemire motioned, and Commissioner Meador 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 Meeks seconded, to enter into an executive meeting at 4:24 p.m. to discuss contract negotiations. All present voted by roll call. Commissioners Meeks, Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted aye.

Commissioner Zimmerman motioned, and Commissioner Ikemire seconded, to move from the executive session to the regular session at 4:44 pm. All present voted Aye by voice vote.

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

The meeting adjourned at 4:44 pm.

https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/media/13641