The regularly scheduled council meeting was held on Tuesday, December 17, 2019, 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 followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Pollard presided with the following Aldermen present: Mark W. Blake, Steve Winkleman, Tracy Nelson, James Totten, Jeremy Courson, Sheila Jo Headlee, Mike Knight, and Doug Hays.
The minutes from the December 3, 2019, council meeting were presented. Alderman Totten made a motion to approve the December 3, 2019, council meeting minutes as presented. Alderman Blake seconded the motion. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman present answering “yes.”
The November 2019 Financial Reports for the City of Carmi and Carmi Light & Water were presented to the council for consideration. A motion was made by Alderman Headlee for approval of the November 2019 Financial Reports. The motion was seconded by Alderman Winkleman. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman present answering “yes.”
The vendor invoices for December 2019 for the City of Carmi and Carmi Light & Water were presented for approval. A motion was made by Alderman Totten to approve the December 2019 vendor invoices. The motion was seconded by Alderman Winkleman. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman present answering “yes.”
For Council Consideration, discussion, and possible approval
- Appointment of Chris Marsh to the Board of Fire and Police Commission for a term beginning January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022. Alderman Hays made a motion to appoint Chris Marsh to the Board of Fire and Police Commission for a term beginning January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022. The motion was seconded by Alderman Courson. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman present answering “yes.”
- Appointment of Eric Rahlfs to the Carmi Public Library Board for a three (3) year term beginning January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2023. Alderman Totten made a motion to appoint Eric Rahlfs to the Carmi Public Library Board for a three (3) year term beginning January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2023. Alderman Winkleman seconded the motion. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman present answering “yes.”
- Appointment of Dee Ann Maurer to the Carmi Public Library Board for a three (3) year term beginning January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2023. Alderman Winkleman made a motion to appoint Dee Ann Maurer to the Carmi Public Library Board for a three (3) year term beginning January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2023. Alderman
Headlee seconded the motion. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman present answering “yes.”
- Jeremy Billington and David Andreas were introduced to discuss the Symetra Stop Loss Insurance renewal for 2020. Mr. Andreas presented data for the last 2 years to compare what the average claims were for the City. In comparing 2018 to 2019, in October 2018, the claims were $408,214.06 year to date. In October 2019, they were $$335,884.38 year to date. This is a decrease of $72,329.68. Part of this reduction can be attributed to the Carmi Community Clinic the City of Carmi participates in which is reducing the cost to the health insurance. He stated the single aggregate factor of 31 will stay the same for 2020. Mr. Andreas did say the administration fee for Mutual Medical will be increased from $30.00 to $35.00. He stated overall in comparing Mutual Medical pricing to the Symetra pricing, Mutual Medical is approximately 20% lower than Symetra. He went on to state we had two options for renewal. Renewal A would be a stop loss of $45,000 with $24,000 IAD. This would increase the premium $3689.00 or 0.32 % from last year. Renewal B is a $50,000 stop loss with $24,000 IAD. There would not be an increase to the policy but we would be raising the stop loss from $45,000 to $50,000. Mr. Andreas stated he felt comfortable with either renewal as the City did not meet the stop loss of $45,000 last year. Alderman Hays asked Clerk Attebury which option she felt would be best. She stated she felt Renewal B would be acceptable as she works very closely with both Mr. Andreas and Mr. Billington to make sure the health insurance is being utilized to the fullest potential. After a brief discussion, Alderman Hays made a motion to accept Renewal B for the Symetra Stop Loss Insurance with a deductible of $50,000 w/$24,000 IAD. Alderman Headlee seconded the motion. The motion carried on roll call be each Alderman answering “yes.”
Reports and/or updates from Mayor Pollard
Mayor Pollard wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. David Coston then gave a brief update on generator #11. Mr. Coston had requested another extension from IMEA to allow the City time to purchase a new generator and have it installed. Mr. Coston stated IMEA declined the extension stating the City had been given two extensions already and they felt that was ample time to fix generator #11. Therefore, nothing further will be done regarding fixing generator #11.
Closed Session to discuss property issues with action to follow:
At 5:55 p.m. a motion to enter into closed session to discuss property issues was made by Alderman Headlee with a second by Alderman Courson. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman present answering “yes.”
Return to Open Session
At 6:11 p.m. Alderman Headlee made a motion to return to open session, seconded by Alderman Courson. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman present answering “yes.” Alderman Knight made a motion for the council to transfer the original lease agreement of part of the West Half (W/2) of the Southeast Quarter (SW/4) of Section Seventeen (17), Township Five (5) South Range Ten (10) East of the Third Principal Meridian, in White County Illinois (South end of the airport) between the City of Carmi and Southern Illinois Custom Aerial LLC (SICA) to Klein Flying Services. The only change in the contract will be to increase the lease terms from a 25-year lease to a 35-year lease, with either party being able to terminate the lease agreement after giving a written notice 90 days prior. The motion was seconded by Alderman Nelson. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Adjournment
At 6:15 p.m. Alderman Headlee made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Alderman Courson. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Cynthia J. Attebury, City Clerk
Jeff Pollard, Mayor
