The Carmi City Council met Tuesday, November 3rd, 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 October 20th, 2015 council meeting were presented. Motion made by Alderman Lamont and seconded by Alderman Knight to approve the minutes as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard asked the council to consider Christmas bonuses for City employees- $60.00 plus $5.00 per year longevity for full-time employees and a flat $60.00 for part-time employees, firemen and EMA members with all bonuses to be paid out of Carmi Light and Water Department. Motion made by Alderman Lamont and seconded by Alderman Headlee to approve the Christmas bonuses as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Reports and/or updates from Mayor Pollard
Mayor Pollard wanted to remind everyone that the Reindeer Run 5k is Saturday, November 21st at 10:00 a.m. pre-registration must be done by noon on Friday, November 6th at the Chamber of Commerce Office.
He then stated that the decorated storefront window contest entry forms must be turned in to the Chamber of Commerce Office by Friday, November 13th with judging on November 16th. This year’s theme is “Memories of Christmas Past.”
Mayor Pollard informed the council that the city is going to have another lighted Christmas Parade on Saturday, November 28th at 6:00 p.m. with the tree lighting ceremony after the parade. All entries must be turned in to the Chamber of Commerce Office by November 20th. This year’s parade theme is also “Memories of Christmas Past.”
Next week there will be a ballot box in the Light and Water Office for the public to vote for Employee of the Year. Also, all of the city’s offices will be closed next Wednesday for Veteran’s Day.
Mayor Pollard commented that the mess behind the city building is a project they are doing to fix the water draining issue that they have behind the building.
City Supervisor Mike Buckman then gave a small report. He stated that the Ellen Drive water line project is completed. The Iris Lane drainage issue is being looked at by Lamac Engineering. Also, the drainage problem on Montgomery Circle will be milled down. The culvert issues on Kerney Street and Stevens Street will be looked at.
Reports from Standing Committees
Alderman Knight wanted to congratulate the Chamber for their Halloween event at Burrell’s Woods. He also wanted to congratulate the local schools for raising a lot of canned food items for the Tri-State Food Bank. He also stated that there is no camping at Burrell’s Woods due to repairs being done. Mayor Pollard added that they are moving the shelter at the top of the hill by the shower house around to the front side. This will hopefully add five to six (5-6) camper slots to Burrell’s Woods.
Alderman Winkleman commented that the pecans from the Carmi Public Library are ready for purchase.
Alderman Davis presented David Coston for his report. Mr. Coston began talking about credits from IMEA for engines. Right now there is a credit of three hundred and forty six thousand and forty two dollars ($346,042) per year or twenty eight thousand eight hundred and thirty seven dollars ($28,837) per month. He stated that the lower bus generator contributes thirty four percent (34%) of credit; the upper bus generator contributes to thirty nine percent (39%) of credit; and number thirteen (13) bus generator contributes to twenty seven percent (27%) of credit. The lower bus switch gear was installed in the 1930s. They also need to test the transformer at the lower bus. He stated that the Bradshaw substation would take six to seven (6-7) months to repair and IMEA power runs through the Bradshaw substation. Number seven and number eight (#7 and #8) generators are barely compliant with current EPA guidelines. The radiators need to be replaced as well. The city would lose fifteen percent (15%) of credit if number seven and number eight (#7 and #8) generators were to go. He stated that the new switches for the lower bus generator are seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($750,000). A new meter point with transformer would be one point eight million dollars ($1.8). To lease the equipment for the lower bus generator would run around thirteen thousand dollars ($13,000) monthly for a ten (10) year agreement. He added that a new radiator (cooling system) would save money. Mr. Coston’s recommendations were to eliminate the lower bus generator switch gear and replace the radiator system. He also recommended installing a new meter point besides Bradshaw Park. He stated that Duke Energy can design the new system for the city. It can be leased or purchased. Alderman Headlee questioned if the city could make a five year (5) plan to purchase like they did with the SCADA system. Mr. Coston answered that year they could. Alderman Davis stated that the city could do most of the work in house. Mayor Pollard asked if they lose number seven and number eight (#7 and #8) would they be better off buying a new generator. Mr. Coston stated that it would not save money; they would need to buy a good used EPA compliant generator.
Business or Comments from Visitors
None
Motion was made by Alderman Headlee and seconded by Alderman Davis to go into closed session to discuss property issues with action to follow. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
At 6:08 p.m. council went into closed session.
Motion made by Alderman Hays and seconded by Alderman Davis to return to open session. The motion carried on roll call by each alderman answering “yes.”
At 6:45 p.m. the council returned to open session.
Motion made by Alderman Hays and seconded by Alderman Winkleman to the City of Carmi for consideration to be specified hereafter, will release its mortgage to a certain area of the hospital property generally defined as half of the parking lot by the old emergency room, the east wing and breezeway of the currently existing nursing home, a tract of land that is north of the east wing of the nursing home and goes all the way to Webb Street and will give a right of way to its mortgage to the new owners of the nursing home that is along the south end of the hospital property for ingress and egress to some buildings that exist on the nursing home property east side. The consideration will be that Phoenix Nursing and Rehab and or Phoenix Foundation will cause to be transferred free and clear of any liens, or any encumbrances to the City of Carmi, the property which is across the street from the nursing home, which is commonly referred to as the Soccer Fields, that all legal work to accomplish the release of the mortgage and transfer of the property will be done by Phoenix and on the condition that the proposed sale of Phoenix to purchasers from New York is closed on Friday, November 6th, 2015, and specifically if that sale does not occur, then this deal is void. A major consideration in what the City Council is doing is the effect this will have on the employees of Phoenix Nursing & Rehab and upon the current residents of that facility and upon residents that are to come to that facility. Because if it wasn’t an ongoing concern with residents and employees the deal would have probably never happened. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Motion made by Alderman Knight and seconded by Alderman Davis to adjourn. The motion carried on roll call by each alderman answering “yes.”
At 6:50 p.m. the council adjourned.