City Council Meeting
City of Carmi
April 6th, 2015
The Carmi City Council met Monday, April 6th, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Room of the Municipal Building, 225 East Main Street, Carmi, Illinois.
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, Kenny Carter, Sheila Jo Headlee, Jack Lamont, Doug Hays and Mike Knight.
Minutes for the March 17th, 2015 council meeting were presented. Motion made by Alderman Hays and seconded by Alderman Knight to approve the minutes as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard presented Sandra Irvine to present bids for the 2015 Flood Buy-out and Demolition. She stated that four (4) people attended a pre-bid meeting. At the Bid Opening meeting on April 1st, two (2) complete bids were received. One was from Jeff Guiswite Inc. for one hundred sixty seven thousand one hundred dollars ($167,100) and the other from O’Daniel Trucking for two hundred thirteen thousand six hundred and seventy four dollars ($213,674). She said that the state regulates that they have to take the lowest bidder, which was Jeff Guisewite Inc. Mrs. Irvine asked the council to approve that bid. Motion made by Alderman Knight and seconded by Alderman Winkleman to accept the bid as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard asked the council to consider Relay for Life committee’s request to close Walnut Street between Main Street and Cherry Street for the race finish line area from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 18th, 2015. Motion made by Alderman Winkleman and seconded by Alderman Headlee to approve the closing of the street as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each alderman answering “yes”.
Mayor Pollard then presented Scott Wylie to present information regarding the Community Foundation. He stated that he started the foundation in Carmi approximately a year ago. White County has no public foundations, only private foundations. He explained that the Lily Endowment will match fifty cents (.50) on every dollar that is raised for the Community Foundation. He explained that the Community Foundation is a trust bank, where the interest off of endowment is the money used for the foundation. The foundation is a long term investment for finding emerging needs to the communities and it is a gift for the future. Mr. Wylie stated that the initial start-up fee would be two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) that would include the Lily Endowment match; this would allow the money to be kept in an account in Carmi and not in a large bank account out of town. He stated that he believed in five to ten years (5-10), we could be self-funded to support the local community. Citizen Martin Ray Barbre asked who is on the board that governs the funds. Mr. Wylie answered that it is usually two (2) civic leaders and business people in the community. He explained that the Community Foundation is considered an IRS donor advised fund. Mayor Pollard stated that he had heard the presentation recently and wants the council to have knowledge of program.
Reports and/or updates from Mayor Pollard
Mayor Pollard stated that he has been asked to remind the public that the discussions in the last meetings about the “Blue Goose” are about updating the pump station. There have been rumors floating around about the city spending money a few years ago on the “Blue Goose”, why is the city getting rid of it. He stated that the city is not tearing it down; they are upgrading the pump station.
He then said that the list of mowing properties is ready to be picked up at the office. The city is seeking a four (4) year bid on them. The bids need to be turned back in by Friday the 17th so that the council can vote on them at the meeting on Tuesday the 21st. He explained that this is the list that the city had from last year and that they will open up bidding on mowing the new property from the flood buy-out program when the properties are available.
Mayor Pollard wanted to remind the public that the city does not accept chairs, couches, and TV’s at the compost site.
Reports from Standing Committees
Alderman Knight reported that water rescue donuts are in place at Burrell’s Woods, but the “No Swimming” signs are not put up yet. He added that the High School art class wants to paint murrells on the buildings at the parks. He also suggested that the council needs to have a discussion on “No Parking” on Oak Street.
Alderman Headlee stated that the city has sent some letters to people with vehicles on city streets. The council needs to amend or enforce any salvage yard ordinances.
Alderman Davis informed the council that Burrell’s Woods campground was full last weekend for the Spring Fling and that several people from Grayville commented on how nice the park is.
City Supervisor Mike Buckman gave a quick update. He informed the council that the emergency number for the light plant is 382-5015. He then said that from there, you will have the option to press #2 for water problems, # 3 for cut off day, and #4 is for any other problems such as potholes or limbs down. This number is active after 4 p.m. through the week and on the weekends.
Business or Comments from Visitors
Martin Ray Barbre wanted to thank the police department. He commented on how great of a job they did on his break-in recently.
Motion was made by Alderman Headlee and seconded by Alderman Davis to go into closed session to discuss personnel and property issues with no action to follow.
At 7:34 p.m. the council went into closed session.
Motion made by Alderman Headlee and seconded by Alderman Davis to return to open session and adjourn. The motion carried on roll call by each alderman answering “yes.”
At 9:00 p.m. the council adjourned.
Brian K. Allen, City Clerk
Jeff Pollard, Mayor
