The Carmi City Council met Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Room of the Municipal Building, 225 East Main Street for the regularly scheduled meeting.
Prior to opening the council meeting, Mayor Pollard asked Alderman Winkleman to give the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Pollard presided with the following Alderperson’s present: Steve Winkleman, Mark W. Blake, Tracy Nelson, Lacey Bradshaw, Jeremy Courson, Sheila Headlee, Mike Knight and Doug Hays.
The minutes from the July 18, 2023, council meeting were presented. Motion was made by Alderperson Courson and seconded by Alderperson Blake to approve the minutes as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderperson present answering “yes” except Alderperson’s Hays and Headlee who were absent at the July 18, 2023 meeting.
Mayor Pollard turned the floor over to Chief of Police, Jason Carter, for the introduction of our two new police officers. Chief Carter introduced Elijah Brown and Joshua Howard. They will be attending the Police Academy beginning the end of the month. The Council welcomed both new officers to the City of Carmi Police Department.
For council consideration, discussion, and possible approval
a. Mayor Pollard will ask council for authorization to seek sealed bids for the sale of excess property: 1992 Ford F700 Bucket Truck with 57,679 miles. Bucket and boom will not pass inspection. It will be sold as is with no warranty. A minimum bid is set at $2,000.00. If approved, bid packets may be picked up at City Hall starting Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. Mayor Pollard stated the truck has been inoperable for some time and due to the boom/bucket being so old, they are unable to find parts. Alderman Hays made a motion to approve the sale of the excess property; 1992 Ford F700 Bucket Truck with 57,679 miles, sold as is with no warranty and a minimum bid of $2,000. The motion was seconded by Alderperson Headlee. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderperson answering “yes.”
b. Mayor Pollard then asked for the council to authorize the purchase of a used 2006 Terex Hi Ranger TL55 mounted on 2006 Ford F750 for $67,500. Mayor Pollard stated with the storms that came thru our area Saturday night, there was only one functioning bucket truck. He stated “The City does have a new bucket truck on order that was approved last year but we do not know when we will get that, possibly 2024.” A discussion was held regarding the urgency and need to purchase another bucket truck for the Line Department. Alderman Hays stated the amount of the purchase is reasonable and this is a time sensitive matter. After a discussion, Alderman Hays made a motion to approve the purchase of a 2006 Terex Hi Ranger TL 55 mounted on a 2006 Ford F750 for the amount of $67,500 due to the importance of making this purchase as quickly as possible so the City Line Department has an appropriately working bucket truck when emergency repairs are
needed. The motion was seconded by Alderperson Headlee. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderperson present answering “yes.”
c. Change Order #23-072: Wiggs Excavating, Inc. – Route 1 Sanitary Sewer and Watermain Replacement original contract price $214,325.00 to change order price of $204,436.34 ($9,888.66 decrease). Alderperson Blake made a motion to approve the change order #23-072 for Wiggs Excavating, Inc. The motion was seconded by Alderperson Winkleman. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderperson present answering “yes.”
d. Pay Request: Wiggs Excavating, Inc. – Route 1 Sanitary Sewer and Watermain Replacement for $199,436.34. Alderperson Winkleman made a motion to approve the pay request to Wiggs Excavating, Inc. The motion was seconded by Alderperson Blake. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderperson present answering “yes.”
e. Ordinance No. 1604: An ordinance authorizing an intergovernmental agreement for participation in the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS Master Agreement 2022). Mayor Pollard stated this agreement just needed to be updated. A motion was made by Alderperson Headlee and seconded by Alderperson Courson to approve Ordinance No. 1604. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderperson present answering “yes.”
f. Resolution 08.01.23; A resolution authorizing an agreement with Friend’s Hospitality of Carmi, LLC utilizing tax increment financing for renovation of property at 1746 Falcon Avenue for $37,500.00. A motion was made by Alderperson Headlee and seconded by Alderperson Courson to approve the resolution as stated above. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderperson present answering “yes”.
g. Resolution 08.02.23; Resolution to execute agreement with Brown and Roberts, Inc. Water System Improvements – 2020 – Rebuild Illinois Funded Portion Construction Observation. Alderperson Headlee made a motion to approve Resolution 08.02.23. The motion was seconded by Alderperson Courson. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderperson present answering “yes.”
h. Change Order #22-074-01 – Kiefer Bros. Construction Co. Inc. for 2020 IEPA portion of Water System Improvements: Original Contract Price $727,465.00 — Change order contract price $724,123.00. Alderperson Courson made a motion to approve the Change Order #22-074-01 to Kiefer Bros. Construction Co. Inc. with a second by Alderperson Heaadlee. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderperson present answering “yes.”
i. Pay Request: Kiefer Bros. Construction Co. Inc. for 2020 IEPA Water System Improvements in the amount of $724,123.00. Alderperson Headlee made a motion to approve the pay request to Kiefer Bros. as noted above. Alderperson Courson seconded the motion. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderperson present answering “yes.”
j. Pay Request: Brown and Roberts, Inc. IEPA Portion Water Systems Improvement C & O #1, March 8, 2023 thru July 21, 2023 in the amount of $19,922.87. Alderperson Headlee made a motion to approve the pay request to Brown and Roberts, Inc. as noted above. The motion was seconded by Alderperson Courson. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderperson present answering “yes.”
Reports and/or updates from Mayor Pollard
Mayor Pollard announced an Electronic Recycling event is scheduled for September 23, 2023. More information will be released at a later date.
The City is requesting residents and businesses in Carmi to send photos of their storm damage and the location that it occurred to [email protected]. We are requesting these in hopes of obtaining governmental assistance, but nothing has been guaranteed.
Mayor Pollard stated “I would personally like to thank all of the City employees that worked very hard to restore power back to our residents and businesses. The town outage was due to the main service line coming into Carmi by Ameren. This storm was very unusual with wide spread damage in every grid which did not allow the City to generate power. Once the power was restored, then the crews had to work on each isolated issue. Even though we still had customers out up until yesterday afternoon, our crews worked 24-hours nonstop since Saturday with them alternating 4-5 hours rest between all of the employees. So all-in-all, working out of one bucket truck and unusual circumstances, they did an excellent job.”
Mayor Pollard also thanked all of the City workers who are working very hard to clear trees and remove all the debris left from the storm. A special thanks goes out to Crossville Mayor Henry Feldman for sending two of his employees, Derek Spicer and Mark Pearce, to help with the clean up as well as Brian Ray and the county employees for helping us out.
Reports from Standing Committees
Alderperson Winkleman reported the library had a few shingles blow off during the storm. Mayor Pollard stated we would have the construction crew take a look at it.
Business or Comments from Visitors
None.
Closed Session to discuss personnel and property with no action to follow:
At 5:51 p.m., Alderperson Hays made a motion to exit regular session and enter into closed session to discuss personnel and property with no action to follow. The motion was seconded by Alderperson Courson. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderperson answering “yes.”
Adjournment
At 6:05 p.m. Alderperson Hays made a motion to go out of closed session, back into regular session, and adjourn with no action. The motion was seconded by Alderperson Courson. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderperson present answering “yes.”
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Cynthia J. Attebury, City Clerk
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Jeff Pollard, Mayor
