The Carmi City Council met Tuesday, February 7th 2017 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: Steve Winkleman, Mark W. Blake, Keith Davis, Lance Yearby, Sheila Jo Headlee, Jack Lamont, Doug Hays and Mike Knight.
Minutes for the January 17th, 2016 council meeting were presented. Motion made by Alderman Lamont and seconded by Alderman Davis to approve the minutes as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard asked the council to consider Resolution No. 02-07-17, a resolution providing approval for the change of control of the local cable franchise. City Clerk Brian Allen stated that RBI Cable One is buying out New Wave Communications. This Resolution is a formality that will allow them to do so. Clerk Allen also stated that the rates will not change. Motion made by Alderman Headlee and seconded by Alderman Winkleman to approve Resolution No. 02-07-17 as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard then presented the Police Department Committee to ask the council to approve the purchase of a new police vehicle for use by the Police Department with the purchase being made utilizing the state bid process. Alderman Hays stated that every year around December, the Police Department purchases a new vehicle that gets moved to the front of the line which allows them to cycle out the older vehicles. He stated that the newest Dodge Ram took six (6) months to get, therefore it only had around ten thousand (10,000) miles on it in December. Currently, the police vehicle in the worst shape is the k9 vehicle. What the Police Department Committee is proposing is buying Investigator Chris Pollard a Chevrolet Impala with police package from John Rice’s for twenty-three thousand two hundred and twenty-six ($23,226) dollars. They will then use Investigator Christ Pollard’s 2009 Crown Vic for parts for the current k9 vehicle. The 2009 Crown Vic has around one hundred thousand (100,000) miles. Alderman Hays stated that a new k9 car would cost forty thousand dollars ($40,000). The new Impala is under budget without having to dip into the Police Department’s tow funds. Motion made by Alderman Hays and seconded by Alderman Blake to purchase the Impala from Rice’s for twenty-three thousand two hundred and twenty-six ($23,226) dollars as presented. The motion carried on call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard then presented Zac Scheetz with Key Equipment and Supply to present the council with lease information for a new street sweeper. Mr. Scheetz proposes a lease to purchase. He stated that a regenerative air model will blow over container and will reuse air; this option is cheaper. The pickup air model will pick up more. U.S. bank will defer payments for a year. Mayor Pollard stated that the old unit was purchased in 2008 was one hundred and fifty thousand ($150,000) dollars. They had a sixty (60) month payment schedule and have had several thousand dollars of repairs already. Mr. Scheetz stated that the new unit will have a bigger hopper and run at faster speeds. It is built in Elgin, Illinois. It runs on diesel fuel, has a green package for the environment and uses shared power from the PTO. Alderman Headlee questioned what is done with the trash that the old unit sweeps up. Foreman Brad Attebury stated that it gets hauled to the compost site in a dump truck. Mr. Scheetz stated that the new unit will be its own dump truck and that 80% of the trash is in the curb line. Mayor Pollard stated that the Whirlwind model is two hundred seventy-eight thousand one hundred and fifty-two ($278,152) dollars with a four thousand nine hundred and fifty-four dollars and eighty-eight cents ($4,954.88) payment plan. The Crosswind model is two hundred forty-six thousand dollars ($246,000) with a four thousand three hundred and eighty-two dollars and fourteen cents ($4,382.14). Both models have five (5) year terms. Alderman Davis inquired about the maintenance and warranty. Mr. Scheetz replied that maintenance is the same as the old unit with a twelve (12) month warranty. Mr. Scheetz stated that Key Equipment has been in business for fifty-four years (54) and Elgin has been around one hundred and four years (104). Free training and inspections is offered as part of the lease agreement. There is about a 90% market share in Illinois. Mr. Scheetz believes that the Whirlwind model is best. Fourteen thousand five hundred ($14,500) dollars is the trade in value for the old unit. Motion made by Alderman Headlee and seconded by Alderman Yearby to table the discussion for a later meeting to check with local banks. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Reports and/or updates from Mayor Pollard
Mayor Pollard introduced Police Chief Jason Carter to present the Nixel program. It allows texts and emails to be sent out for emergencies. It will also be used for any additional information such as boil orders, Chamber of Commerce events, etc… The link can be found on the Carmi PD webpage to register your email and call (618)-888-7777 to register your phone for text alerts.
Reports from Standing Committees
Alderman Headlee stated that the budget is ready.
Business or Comments from Visitors
None
Motion made by Alderman Hays and seconded by Alderman Winkleman to go into closed session to discuss personnel issues with action to follow. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
At 5:58 p.m. the council went into closed session.
Motion made by Alderman Davis and seconded by Alderman Winkleman to return to open session. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
At 7:25 p.m. the council returned to open session.
Motion made by Alderman Hays and seconded by Alderman Davis to award Keaton Bradshaw the Foreman position for the Light Distribution Plant. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Motion made by Alderman Davis and seconded by Alderman Blake to table the Foreman position for the Sewer Department. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Motion made by Alderman Winkleman and seconded by Alderman Blake to adjourn.
At 7:27 p.m. the council adjourned.
Brian K. Allen, City Clerk
Jeff Pollard, Mayor
