City of Carmi
March 17, 2014
The Carmi City Council met Monday, March 17, 2014 at 5:30 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 Steve 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, Doug Hays, Jack Lamont and Mike Knight.
Minutes for the March 3, 2014 Council Meeting were presented. Motion made by Alderman Lamont and seconded by Alderman Blake to approve the minutes as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
February 2014 financial reports for the City of Carmi and Carmi Light & Water Departments were presented for approval. Motion made by Alderman Headlee and seconded by Alderman Winkleman to approve the financial reports as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Vendor invoices for the City of Carmi and Carmi Light & Water Departments payable in March 2014 were presented for approval. Alderman Headlee questioned an invoice from Fairbanks Morse for engines #1 and #7 for $56,683.00 – engine #1 & #14 for $82,440.00 and engine #14 for $220,806.00 which she understood should have been paid from the bond money. Mayor Pollard explained there was not enough money left over in the bond to pay that invoice and Fairbanks Morse is crediting the city back for not finishing the job in the appropriated time, the credit has been received and now the invoice is ready to be paid. Motion by Alderman Hays and seconded by Alderman Davis to approve and authorize payment of the March 2014 vendor invoices. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard asked Council to approve Resolution 03-17-14, a resolution renewing the employee’s safety incentive program for the period April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015. Mayor Pollard explained that there had been some changes in the resolution, the changes were the cities new worker’s compensation insurance carrier, wording for retired employees, voluntarily leaving a position and being terminated from a position. Motion by Alderman Lamont and seconded by Alderman Winkleman to approve Resolution 03-17-14 as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard then asked Council to review bids and approve one for the redevelopment of Burrell Woods pond and ditches. Mayor Pollard gave an explanation of the bids and work to be performed; break existing levee to drain pond, dig out ditch on north side, remove trees on south side of ditch, build new ditch, set two (2) culverts for new ditch (culverts supplied by city), remove silt from pond bed, rebuild pond levee, backfill old ditch behind shelter, rip rap ditch, rip rap lake edge (rip rap supplied by city) and city will haul off all dirt. Allen Excavating gave a bid of $14,500.00 and Hanks Excavating & Trucking gave an estimated bid of $15,000.00 to $20,000.00. Mayor Pollard explained the pond had been dredged in the last three (3) years at a cost of $4,000.00 to $6,000.00 and it was vital to reroute the ditches to avoid the dirt being flushed back into the pond. Alderman Headlee noted that the funds for this project had been put in the budget for this year. Motion by Alderman Winkleman and seconded by Alderman Knight to approve contractor bid from Allen Excavating as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard asked Mrs. Lorelei Stone of Parachutes over Carmi to present her proposal for management of the Carmi Municipal Airport. Mrs. Stone gave the following points for consideration for the management of the Carmi Municipal Airport:
- 17 years’ experience managing airport with 20 years of experience running the skydiving center at the airport
- Have always made the best decisions for the airport as a whole not what was best for one person.
- Pushed for getting a new fuel facility in place complete with jet fuel to accommodate new business and all business (crop dusters, Life Flight, etc.) we haven’t been able to serve without jet fuel.
- Good working relationship with the Department of Aeronautics and Department of Transportation.
- I lieu of contract wages we are proposing a $.25 per gallon flowage fee to the city and $.75 per gallon flowage fee which to Parachutes to run the airport (current margin on the fuel is and has been a $1 or less.) This is an incentive for us to bring in more business into the airport and also based on continued crop dusting activity.
- Provide manpower for mowing and trimming.
- Have done and will continue to provide general maintenance for the courtesy car.
- Have done and will continue to provide general maintenance for the terminal building.
Mayor Pollard asked Mr. Greg Brown of Southern Illinois Aerial Maintenance, LLC to present his proposal for management of the Carmi Municipal Airport. Mr. Brown gave the following points for consideration for the management of the Carmi Municipal Airport:
- City to maintain the utilities and general liability insurance.
- Maintain and use of the courtesy car.
- Carry fixed operations-based insurance for the airport.
- Purchase the fuel the city has in storage at the cost the city originally purchased the fuel at.
- Purchase any fuel in the future and give the city a $.10 per gallon flowage fee.
- Provide general maintenance for the courtesy car.
- Provide general maintenance for the terminal building.
- Provide manpower for mowing, trimming and grounds keeping.
- Have someone on staff 24 hours a day seven days a week.
- Keep standard business hours minimum six days a week 10 hours a day.
- Change locks system to a keypad lock on the terminal building.
- Posted phone numbers for staff members.
- Although we will act as a manager for the city we do not want control or ultimate decision-making responsibilities at the airport. We would like a committee of two Aldermen, two pilots who either have planes at the North end and or belong to the flying club, and only one representative from SIAM. This prohibits us from any majority vote and act only as a tiebreaker.
- It will ultimately be the decision of the city whether or not to allow Ag aviation at the north end of the airport.
- If the city were to make a decision not to allow Ag aviation at the north end of the airport Mr. Brown has discussed with other aerial applicators that they can use the SIAM rinse pad.
- Fuel margins will stay at $1.
- Would like to switch to a branded fuel which will provide signage and a $50 million dollar insurance policy on the fuel to cover the city and SIAM.
- Will provide a weekly report by email from Eastern aviation on current fuel prices, fuel be purchased by the semi-load for cost containment.
Discussion of proposals for Management of Carmi Municipal Airport
Alderman Winkleman questioned how much fuel was on hand at the airport and what the cost per gallon was set at. Mrs. Stone replied there were approximately eight thousand (8,000) gallons between the two types of fuel and the cost were $5.70 per gallon with a dollar ($1.00) markup and sales-tax for the one hundred (100) low lead, and $4.99 per gallon with a dollar ($1.00) markup and sales-tax for the jet fuel. Alderman Winkleman questioned if SIAM was going to use its own mowing and bush hogging equipment for maintaining the property. Mr. Brown replied “yes” the equipment was already there to maintain the South end of the property at the airport. Alderman Winkleman questioned if someone would be there at the terminal at all times. Mr. Brown answered there would be someone at the terminal when there was air traffic and there would always be someone available. Mr. Brown will be installing security cameras to monitor fuel tanks, the terminal building and posting phone numbers for staff members. Alderman Winkleman questioned if Mrs. Stone were presently using the upper room at the terminal building. Mrs. Stone replied that she had been given permission by the past council members to utilize the upper room and hangar. Alderman Knight questioned Mr. Brown about the containment of chemicals. Mr. Brown answered the Illinois statute says if it’s a remote location there does not need to be any containment, but the definition of an Ag facility says; if it uses three hundred (300) gallons of chemical or one (1) pound of dry fertilizer in a thirty (30) day window, SIAM has a license for their rinse pad which covers the legality of the statute. Alderman Knight questioned Mrs. Stone if there had ever been any spillage of chemicals at the North end of the airport and the reason for the question is that a spill would impact the community along with the airport. Mrs. Stone answered that the only spillage was slight spill that had killed some grass, but has never witnessed any chemical on the concrete. Alderman Knight questioned Mrs. Stone why the search light and run way lights were not turned on. Mrs. Stone answered that the search light is always on and was refurbished two years ago. Alderman Winkleman noted that there was a letter from Mr. Warren Goetsch with the Illinois Department of Agriculture about chemical containment issues and needed some clarification as to what actually could be done with Ag. Chemicals at the North end of the airport. Mrs. Stone replied that Rick Reed who is the Executive Director of the Illinois Agricultural Aviation Association informed her that he had helped write the Illinois statute and as long as the Ag. Applicators were licensed in the state of Illinois as Aviation Ag. Applicator and had a containment pad license they could operate remotely from another airport. Mr. Brown noted the containment issue at the North end was strictly up to the Mayor, City Council, City Attorney and it would not affect his operation. Mayor Pollard questioned Mr. Brown about the markup on the fuel. Mr. Brown replied that the markup would be stuck at one ($1.00) dollar, the city will get an email every week of fuel prices and a copy of the fuel logs. Alderman Winkleman inquired of Mayor Pollard when he was planning on setting up the airport board and Mayor Pollard answered within the thirty day notification that was given to the current airport management. Alderman Carter noted that with Mrs. Stone’s proposal the city would still be paying for the fuel in the tanks, equipment for mowing and with Mr. Brown’s proposal it would cost the city nothing, it would basically be a wash. Alderman Davis noted that his job was dealing with chemicals on a daily basis and he felt like the city could not afford the liability, with no one being able to clearly answer the containment questions. Mr. Bozic questioned if the city could build its own rinse pad to solve the issue. Alderman Davis replied that it was a cost factor and the city was not financially able to take on that responsibility at this time. Mayor Pollard noted that other Ag. Applicators were given the opportunity to build their own rinse pad at the airport. Alderman Hays questioned Mr. Brown if it would be a problem to change the sixty (60) day cancellation notice to a thirty (30) day cancellation notice in his contract if he were to be named airport management. Mr. Brown replied it can be changed to a thirty (30) day cancellation notice for both parties. Motion made by Alderman Carter and seconded by Alderman Davis to accept proposal from Mr. Greg Brown of Southern Illinois Aerial Maintenance, LLC to manage the Carmi Municipal Airport as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Reports and/or updates from Mayor Pollard
Mayor Pollard announced that there was a bid list of city property to be mowed that could be picked up at the City Office’s by any mowing contractor that was licensed and insured. The mowing contractor proposals would need to be turned in to his office by April 3, 2014 and it would be decided at the April 7th Council meeting if it were cost effective to contract the mowing out or to have the Parks Department to continuing mowing the properties and it would then be discussed and voted on.
Mayor Pollard noted that WEDG Director Sandra Irvine was applying for an Illinois Department of National Resources grant to be used for recreational purposes at the Bradshaw Park tennis courts. There would be a poll on the city website pertaining to the use of the tennis courts.
Mayor Pollard noted that we are waiting on an easement agreement from the railroad to be forwarded to the EDA office for their approval and then we will start taking bids for the work to be done at Industrial Park.
Reports from Standing Committees
Alderman Lamont questioned if additional city lots could be added to the mowing lists. Mayor Pollard answered “yes” there may be additional lots to add. Alderman Lamont read a letter from a citizen concerning putting up railroad crossing arms at Burrell Street. Mayor Pollard answered that the railroad would be putting up crossing arms after the Burrell Street project was completed.
Alderman Headlee noted that a citizen came into her office with a request to be put on the Carmi Police Departments, White County Sherriff’s and Cities websites that anyone with a disability or lives alone that needed 911 could call Julie Irwin at her office number 382-8911 and she can put a directive to the dispatcher to send an emergency official directly to a certain spot in their home.
Alderman Winkleman questioned how a resident could be placed on the route for trash pickup. Mayor Pollard answered that if they were being billed for city utilities they could call the Light & Water Office and have Pam put them on the trash route. Alderman Winkleman inquired of the plan for the tennis courts at Eckerle Park. Mayor Pollard answered that he was looking at some playground / exercise equipment and a gazebo.
Alderman Davis noted that work on the substation’s had begun. Mr. Davis wanted to thank both Mrs. Stone and Mr. Brown for their proposals to manage the airport. Mr. Davis also noted that he personally didn’t want to lose Parachutes over Carmi and hoped they were going to continue doing business in Carmi. Mrs. Stone replied Parachutes over Carmi would be continuing to operate in Carmi as always.
City Supervisor Mike Buckman
Mr. Buckman noted that a project has been added to the Motor Fuel Tax funds at Third Street and Shipley Street to correct a problem with the ditches and erosion. Alderman Knight questioned if there could be a guard rail installed there as well. Mr. Buckman replied “yes” the City Welder was building a guard rail for that project. Mr. Buckman also noted that city crews would be installing a turn-around at the end of Saunders Avenue, possibly could be installing a sidewalk on the West side of Seventh Street; currently there is no sidewalk. Mayor Pollard noted that he also had plans on installing a sidewalk on the North side of Main Street from the Coffee Shop to McDonalds. Mr. Buckman added the Yard Waste site will be open from eight (8) to 12 (noon) starting this Saturday.
Business or Comments from Visitors
None
Motion made by Alderman Winkleman and seconded by Alderman Davis to adjourn. The motion carried on roll call by each alderman answering “yes.”
At 6:40 p.m., the Council adjourned.
Brian K. Allen, City Clerk
Jeff Pollard, Mayor
Recording on Clerk’s computer: …open with Windows Media Player
Documents / My Documents / COUNCIL MEETINGS / MINUTES / 2014 / 03 MARCH MIN / Council Meeting. 03.17.2014.WMA
