The Carmi City Council met Monday, April 21, 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 April 7, 2014 Council Meeting were presented. Motion made by Alderman Hays and seconded by Alderman Winkleman to approve the minutes as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
March 2014 financial reports for the City of Carmi and Carmi Light & Water Departments were presented for approval. Alderman Lamont inquired if all the bills to Fairbanks Morse had been paid in full and was the engine running Mayor Pollard answered “yes” they were all paid and the engine was running. 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 April 2014 were presented for approval. Motion by Alderman Hays and seconded by Alderman Blake to approve and authorize payment of the April 2014 vendor invoices. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard introduced Pete Fulkerson representing First Bank and Carmi Summer Recreational League to request naming the boy’s Bronco field at Bradshaw Park to “First Bank Field.” Mr. Fulkerson noted that First Bank has been working with the CSRL over the past year to come up with a plan to help improve the park facilities and it was decided to begin with reconstructing the backstop at the boy’s Bronco field. Mr. Fulkerson also noted that First Bank has committed to a three (3) year improvement plan to help with three (3) other fields at Bradshaw Park. Motion by Alderman Winkleman and seconded by Alderman Davis to approve naming the boy’s Bronco field “First Bank Field” as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard presented John Acree of Lamac Engineering to request authorization and providing cost estimates to advertise for bids for Roser Drive water line extension and Commercial Avenue water and sewer extension to make the eleven (11) acres available for development. Mr. Acree gave estimated cost for Roser Drive of $31,520, Commercial Avenue water line of $11,828 and Commercial Avenue sewer line of $31,400 which are contractor prevailing wages. Mr. Acree noted that permit applications have been submitted for all three projects, he would like to start advertising for sealed bids next week, see the bids opened on May 29th, 2014 and at the June 2nd Council Meeting the bids could be voted on. Motion by Alderman Blake and seconded by Alderman Headlee to approve Lamac Engineering to advertise for sealed bids as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard asked council to re-appoint Nancy J. Winter as Trustee on the Police Pension Fund Board for a two (2) year term effective May 1, 2014 to April 30, 2016. Motion made by Alderman Hays and seconded by Alderman Blake to re-appoint Nancy J. Winter to the Police Pension Fund Board as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard presented Ordinance No. 1476, an ordinance authorizing the sale of a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria Police Cruiser without advertising the sale to the Village of Norris City, Illinois Police Department. Mayor Pollard asked Alderman Hays chairman of the Police Committee to give explanation. Alderman Hays explained that in the past the council had advertised the sale of used police cruisers on eBay with good success, but it was brought to his attention that the Norris City Police Department was looking for a used police cruiser to purchase. Alderman Hays further explained that the Norris City Police Department was contacted about the police cruiser and agreed to pay $5,000 for the vehicle “as is” and that the City of Carmi could legally sell the vehicle to Norris City without advertising for bids if an ordinance were passed to complete the sale. Motion made by Alderman Hays and seconded by Alderman Blake to sell the police cruiser to the Village of Norris City, Illinois Police Department as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard presented for discussion and approval the contractor bids for mowing and maintenance of city property. Mayor Pollard explained that the lowest bid turned in was $1,180 per month and the highest bid was $3,090. Mayor Pollard noted that he had a meeting with Alderman Knight Chairman and Alderman Winkleman Co-chairman of the Parks Department to discuss the contractor bids. Alderman Knight gave a recommendation to the council to award the contract to Pat Owen; Mr. Owen’s bid was for $1,196 per month. Alderman Knight noted that awarding the contract to Mr. Owen would ultimately save the city money and allows the Parks Department to concentrate their efforts on maintaining the city parks and cemeteries. Alderman Winkleman also noted that it would save the city approximately $2,200 per month by eliminating the need to hire two seasonal employees to do the mowing and maintenance and that savings could increase if Mr. Owen didn’t have to mow as often as speculated in the bid. Alderman Winkleman explained that the council had looked into contracting the mowing six or seven years ago and at that time the bids that came in were not going to be a savings to the city, so it was decided to give the mowing contract a one (1) year trial this year to compare the savings and there would be no need to purchase a new mower again in 2014. Mayor Pollard explained that additionally since the new management at the Carmi Municipal Airport would be maintaining and mowing the grounds themselves this would also help free up the Parks Department to put more time in maintaining the city parks and cemeteries. Motion made by Alderman Winkleman and seconded by Alderman Knight to accept the bid from Pat Owen on a one (1) year trial basis to mow and maintain city property as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard presented Chief of Police Randy Hamblin and Deputy Chief of Police Jason Carter. Chief Hamblin presented newly promoted Sergeant Dustin Buttry and Sergeant Brad Spence and their wives Sarah Buttry and Kim Spence to present to them their first set of chevrons. Sergeant Buttry’s wife Sarah pinned her husband with his first set of gold chevrons and Sergeant Brad Spence’s wife Kim pinned her husband with his first set of chevrons. Everyone in attendance applauded and congratulated each Sergeant on their promotion.
City Supervisor Mike Buckman
- Mr. Buckman reported the following;
- Pigging/flushing water lines will take place this week by the Water Wells Department.
- All fire hydrants will be flushed at night starting on April 22 and notice to the public that flushing will cause a decrease in water pressure.
- Parks Department Foreman Keith Large has put together a list of projects that he would like to complete this year with the Mayor’s and council’s approval.
- Mr. Buckman presented a list of Motor Fuel Tax projects that need to be completed this year.
- Mr. Buckman noted that when the city crews work on a Motor Fuel Tax project the city can be reimbursed for the work completed.
- Prices will be gathered for the projects and the council will decide which projects are priorities.
- Sewer and water projects can also be completed with Motor Fuel Tax funds as long as the lines are in the street.
- There is approximately $270,000 of Motor Fuel Tax funds available for these projects.
- Newly named “First Bank Field” at Bradshaw Park is about to be completed in time for Opening Day of the Carmi Summer Recreational League.
- The city crews have been helping at Bradshaw Park and will be installing handicap parking, running all wiring for electric and public announcement system underground, repairing drainage issues and pouring concrete for the new “Carl McVey Batting Cage.”
- Mr. Buckman attended a fracking conference at Southeastern Illinois College earlier in the day and it was well attended and received.
Reports and/or updates from Mayor Pollard Mayor Pollard reminded the public about the Electronic Recycling Day scheduled for Saturday, April 26th at North Third Street in the old Newton Wire and Cable building from 9 a.m. to 12 (noon). Mayor Pollard announced that he, City Clerk Brian Allen and WEDG Director Sandra Irvine recently had a web conference call with Jake Ward of Bluebridge Digital, LLC about creating a smartphone APP for the City of Carmi. Bluebridge designs, builds, maintains and updates APP’s to be used by citizens. When finished the APP will be available for free to anyone with a smartphone and will allow the city to notify the public of any upcoming events, closings, water boil orders and allow citizens to pay their utility bill all from their smartphone. Mayor Pollard noted that this will be a very useful tool for the city and the citizens.
Mayor Pollard also announced that Burrell Woods campground will be closed the weekend of May 2nd though the May 4th for the Boy Scout Jamboree. Mayor Pollard publicly apologized to the Boy Scouts and their families for the park being in a state of construction, but noted that when finished it would be well worth it for the following years.
Mayor Pollard read a letter from the Gregory W. Dillman family. The letter from the Dillman’s was proposing for the city to graciously accept a donation of $20,000 towards the redevelopment of Burrell Woods’s pond and requesting the city to name the pond the “Gregory W. Dillman Memorial Pond” with the addition of a memorial monument to be on display at the pond. Mayor Pollard advised that he would like to vote on the donation and the naming of the pond at the next council meeting.
Reports from Standing Committees
Alderman Lamont announced that the Street Department’s backhoe was broken down, was at Hillyard’s repair shop, and would not move into reverse. The backhoe is a 1999 model and the cost of repairs would be greater than the tractor is worth.
Business or Comments from Visitors
Citizen Richard Cook questioned, since the council has not revisited the liquor ordinances or made any changes in the ordinances would the Police Department be enforcing the current ordinances as they were written or would they be “turning a blind eye” to those that were offenders. Mayor Pollard answered that the council would be revisiting the liquor ordinances in the near future and would most likely be able to correct the outside issues first.
Motion made by Alderman Winkleman and seconded by Alderman Davis to adjourn. The motion carried on roll call by each alderman answering “yes.”
Brian K. Allen, City Clerk
Jeff Pollard, Mayor