MINUTES
City Council Meeting
City of Carmi
June 2nd, 2015
The Carmi City Council met Tuesday, June 2nd, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Room of the Municipal Building, 225 East Main Street.
Prior to opening the council meeting, Mayor Pollard asked Alderman Winkleman to give the invocation. The prayer was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Pollard presided with the following Aldermen present: Steve Winkleman, Mark W. Blake, Keith Davis, Lance Yearby, Sheila Jo Headlee, Jack Lamont, Doug Hays and Mike Knight.
Minutes for the May 19, 2015 council meeting were presented. Motion made by Alderman Hays and seconded by Alderman Davis to approve the minutes as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard presented Holly Healy with the Carmi Chamber of Commerce to ask the council to consider a donation to the 4th of July fireworks display. She stated that in 2010, the council donated six thousand dollars ($6,000); in 2011 they donated seven thousand dollars ($7,000); in 2012 they donated nine thousand dollars ($9,000); in 2013 the funds from 2012 were used because no fireworks show was held due to the drought; and in 2014 the council donated nine thousand dollars ($9,000). Motion made by Alderman Hays and seconded by Alderman Knight to make a nine thousand dollar ($9,000) donation to the Carmi Chamber of Commerce for the 4th of July fireworks display. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes”.
Mayor Pollard then presented Andy Accord requesting donation of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per year for the next three (3) years for the CEO program. He explained that the Carmi Chamber of Commerce recently got behind this program called Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities. It is designed to help high school juniors and seniors start their own businesses while providing community members as mentors. The goal of this program is to create CEO’s in our own community. Mr. Accord stated that this has been very successful in Effingham and Mt. Carmel. He then explained that the Chamber has come up with the twenty five thousand dollars ($25,000) to get this program up and running and they are going around to different businesses asking for one thousand dollars ($1,000) per year for three (3) years to help with the startup costs and it helps them hire one (1) or two (2) part-time teachers to teach the kids. Mr. Accord stated that a CEO Committee will blindly select those students that apply, not knowing their names. They will fill out an application and from there they will be selected. The classes will be held locally and fifteen (15) students will be involved. The students come up with their own businesses and have a trade show at the end of the year. Mr. Accord commented that they are only going to pick seniors. Motion made by Alderman Headlee and seconded by Alderman Winkleman to donate one thousand dollars ($1,000) per year for the next three (3) years for the CEO program. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard then asked the council to consider Ordinance No. 1486, and Ordinance regulating speed of vehicles over and upon streets, alleys, and city parks within the City of Carmi and rescinding Ordinance No. 1150 and Ordinance No. 1460. He explained that this got started because there are no speed limits at the parks at all right now. City Clerk Brian Allen stated that he spoke with Police Chief Jason Carter and they decided to combine all of the speed limit ordinances together instead of having three(3) or four (4). They changed quite a bit of things including raising the fines. Chief Carter stated that he looked at other cities ordinances and found that the trend of fines were seventy five dollars ($75) to seven hundred and fifty dollars ($750) which is what they changed it to. Alderman Hays said that they also dropped the speed limit in the parks down to ten (10) miles an hour instead of fifteen (15). Motion made by Alderman Hays and seconded by Alderman Knight to approve Ordinance No. 1486 and to rescind Ordinance No. 1150 and Ordinance No. 1460. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard asked the council to consider resurfacing the south tennis courts at Bradshaw Park for eighteen thousand dollars ($18,000). Alderman Headlee stated that there is money in the parks budget to resurface the tennis courts. Alderman Winkleman commented that the council is going to have to fix it or lose the courts all together. Mayor Pollard stated that Sandra Irvine said that the resurfacing would last for three (3) years so that will give the council some time to set money back for a full revamping of the courts. Motion made by Alderman Knight and seconded by Alderman Blake to resurface the south tennis courts at Bradshaw Park for eighteen thousand dollars ($18,000). The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Reports and/or updates from Mayor Pollard
Mayor Pollard said that he spoke with David Coston and that the City is going to move forward with the IMEA public reimbursement program. He explained that when receipts are brought in the city will credit their electric bill.
Mayor Pollard stated that this Thursday June 4th at 6:30 p.m. Darrell and Brenda Marshall will be holding a concert at the Gazebo. If it is raining it will be held at the New Emanuel Methodist Church in the Edgewood Subdivision. They are having the concert as the first official fundraiser to raise money for the Amphitheater at Burrell’s Woods.
He added that a few weeks ago it was brought to the city’s attention about the parking on Oak Street between 6th and 7th Street. The council needs to think about what they need to do to resolve the issue. He said that larger trucks and trailers are obstructing the view of oncoming traffic. He asked the council if they wanted a no parking period on that section of the street or if they want the ordinance written to allow only passenger vehicles to park on the street. Mayor Pollard said that Sandra Irvine contacted IDOT and they will not dictate “No Parking” within city limits.
Mayor Pollard said that they also need to decide if they are going to buy or rent fire protection clothing for the departments required to wear them. There are ten (10) employees at the light plant and eight (8) employees at the line department. It would run about one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200) to buy and one thousand ($1,000) a year to rent. He said that this needs to be budgeted into the safety budget.
He then asked City Supervisor Mike Buckman to give a quick update. He stated that the materials to fix the Airport Road water line are about ten thousand two hundred and ninety nine dollars and four cents ($10,299.04). They are getting one thousand six hundred (1,600) feet of six (6) inch water line. Next the materials for the 900 E water line are fourteen thousand one hundred and twenty one dollars and twenty eight cents ($14,121.28) with four thousand dollars ($4,000) of boring costs. They are getting four thousand feet (4,000) of four (4) inch water line. He then said that the materials for the Tim Rowe property are eleven thousand eight hundred and thirteen dollars and fifty five cents ($11,813.55). They are getting three thousand (3,000) feet of four (4) inch water line. Mr. Buckman said that the total for all three (3) of these projects is forty thousand dollars ($40,000) for the materials with the city employees providing labor. They budgeted seventy five thousand dollars ($75,000) for water lines this year. Alderman Headlee commented that she does not have a problem with it because it is built in the budget. He continued that on June 24th at 8:00 a.m. he wants to meet with committees to discuss employee and citizen policies. He then asked the council what they are going to do with the abandoned lots. He said that spraying creates erosion and that he believes that they need to be mowed. Mr. Buckman commented that Fairground Road needs to be closed to see what the problem is with the sink hole. He said that he is meeting with Brian Ray to discuss engineering right of ways for citizens on Burrell Street. He also has a meeting with Alderman Yearby and John Acree to discuss Montgomery Circle. The streets flood when it rains. Alderman Headlee commented that the project is not budgeted. The council agreed to get a game plan on the drainage. He then informed the council that he will be gone next week to Peoria for an annual meeting.
Reports from Standing Committees
Alderman Knight commented that the pool is opening on Friday. He also commented that the fountain is started at Burrell’s Woods. He added that there is a new spill way and sidewalk being put in at the pool.
Alderman Lamont said that Jim Renshaw has a twenty thousand dollar ($20,000) bill for the mosquito spray.
Alderman Headlee informed the council that she attended that fire meeting last week. The garage doors at the fire station are wearing out. They need an estimate for refurbishing or replacing them.
Alderman Winkleman commented that on June 28th from 1-4 is the 100th celebration of the library.
Business or Comments from Visitors
None.
Motion was made by Alderman Headlee and seconded by Alderman Davis to go into closed session for the purpose of discussing personnel issues with action to follow. The motion carried on roll call by each alderman answering “yes.”
At 6:29 p.m. council went into closed session.
Motion made by Alderman Lamont and seconded by Alderman Blake to return to open session. The motion carried on roll call by each alderman answering “yes.”
At 7:13 p.m. the council returned to open session.
Motion made by Alderman Lamont and seconded by Alderman Hays to hire Keith Russell full time in the Street and Alley Department. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes” with the exception of Alderman Blake sustaining.
Motion made by Alderman Blake and seconded by Alderman Davis to hire Rob Mason full time at the Waste Water Treatment Plant. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes” with the exceptions of Alderman Knight sustaining and Alderman Headlee voting “no.”
Motion made by Alderman Winkleman and seconded by Alderman Davis to adjourn.
At 7:15 p.m. the council adjourned.
Brian K. Allen, City Clerk
Jeff Pollard, Mayor