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City of Mount Carmel City Council met Jan. 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 – Eric Ikemire, Tyson Meador Susan Zimmerman

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mayor Judge requested a motion to approve the January 6, 2025 council meeting minutes.

Commissioner Ikemire motioned, and Commissioner Meador seconded, to approve the meeting minutes held on January 6, 2025. All present voted by roll call. Commissioner Meeks is absent. Commissioners Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted aye.

VISITORS

Josh Evans from the St. Mary’s Rocket Foundation was in attendance to talk about the 5K Run that will be held on February 22, 2025.

MAYOR’S COMMENTS

Mayor Judge thanked the city employees for doing a good job on the work asked of them and for the amount of energy they put into clearing the roads and sidewalks. Mayor Judge received phone calls from other mayors praising the work done and asking how we were able to do so much to clear the snow.

Mayor Judge stated we have had a water main break and as the weather changes, we may have a few more.

Mayor Judge reminded the city that it is illegal for anyone to go through barricades with road closed signs on them.

Mayor Judge thanked everyone for their participation in the snowman contest at the nursing home. The residents there really enjoyed this. The Misty Mewes family was the winner of the $50.00 merchant gift check.

Mayor Judge stated that the Wabash County Senior Center is a designated warming center for anyone needing a heat shelter. This is on an as needed basis so if you need a warming center please call the Mt. Carmel Police Department and they can get ahold of someone to work out the details for you.

Mayor Judge stated that on January 8, he and Mr. Garcia attended a coordinated response exercise for pipeline safety.

COMMISSIONER REPORTS:

COMMISSIONER TYSON MEADOR – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS

Commissioner Meador thanked the crews for their efforts in cleaning the streets. Snow and ice removal has taken up the majority of the crews’ time. They have also assisted with water line breaks and filling a few potholes.

COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS

Commissioner Ikemire stated that in the last two weeks we had $317,702.71 in receipts and $65,028.55 in expenditures.

COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – WATER AND SEWER

Commissioner Meeks is absent.

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

Commissioner Zimmerman reported that the fire department had received 14 calls in the last two weeks. She reminded the city not to plug electric heaters into extension cords or power strips.

Commissioner Zimmerman reported that if your garbage was not picked up and City Hall is closed, there is a form on the city website that you can fill out and submit and someone will get back with you. If you have damaged trash totes needing to be replaced, please call City Hall and let them know and they can order you a new one.

CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RYAN TURNER

City Administrative Assistant Ryan Turner – no report.

CITY ATTORNEY – DEREK MCCULLOUGH

City Attorney McCullough – no report.

AIRPORT MANAGER – LUIS GARCIA

Airport Manager Garica stated the airport was closed due to weather for 1 day but things are cleaned up now. He thanked Mt. Carmel Stabilization Group for lending out some of their equipment.

POLICE CHIEF – MIKE MCWILLIAMS

Police Chief McWilliams thanked the public works crew for their quick response in getting sidewalks cleared around the elementary and grade schools for children walking to school.

Police Chief McWilliams stated that the new officers are slowly integrating into solo patrol. They are doing really well.

FIRE CHIEF – FRANCIS SPETH

Fire Chief Speth is absent.

PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR – MIKE GIDCUMB

Public Works Director Gidcumb reminded the city to stay off of the levee. There have been UTV’s and/or other vehicles on it and no one is permitted to be on the levee.

WABASH COUNTY E.M.A.

Wabash County E.M.A. is absent.

BUSINESS MOTIONS

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

Commissioner Zimmerman motioned, and Commissioner Ikemire seconded, to move to executive session to discuss the purchasing of land at 4:23 pm. All present voted by roll vote. Commissioner Meeks is absent. Commissioners Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted aye.

Commissioner Meador motioned, and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded, to move out of executive session at 4:58 pm. All present voted by roll vote. Commissioner Meeks is absent. Commissioners Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted aye.

Commissioner Zimmerman motioned, and Commissioner Ikemire seconded, to adjourn today's meeting. All present voted Aye by voice vote.

The meeting adjourned at 4:58 pm.

https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/media/13806