The Carmi City Council met Tuesday, March 1st 2016 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. The prayer was 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 February 16th, 2015 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.”
Mayor Pollard presented Derek Keller dba Derek Keller’s Landscaping, LLC to ask council approval of his application for a twenty thousand dollar ($20,000) loan from the city’s revolving loan fund. City Administrator Sandra Irvine stated that Mr. Keller’s business will be at the old Midwest Motel site. Mr. Keller stated that his parents own Keller’s Landscaping in Olney, IL and he has worked ten (10) years for them. He recently moved to Carmi and sees the need for a landscaping company here and he sees good potential. He added that he has about fifteen to twenty (15-20) jobs already lined up this year. Motion made by Alderman Blake and seconded by Alderman Davis to approve Derek Keller’s request for the twenty thousand dollar ($20,000) loan for his landscaping business as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard then presented City Administrator Sandra Irvine to present Amber Giagnoni dba Joyful Start Children’s Center request for council approval of her application for an additional thirty-two thousand five hundred dollar ($32,500) loan from the city’s revolving loan fund. Mrs. Irvine stated that she received her first loan in November 2013 and that Mrs. Giagnoni pays her payments. Her business is growing and she is at the point where she cannot take any more children. She did look at another site, but she decided to keep everything in one location and to just build on to the back of her existing building. The addition is going to be eight hundred and seventy-four feet. She is going to add new flooring, another bathroom and some fencing. Mrs. Irvine stated that they would just close out her balance that she has now and add it to a new loan. Mrs. Giagnoni has asked if they could add on another five (5) years so that her payments can be about the same. Alderman Headlee questioned if the money was in the account. Mrs. Irvine answered that there is one hundred and seventy thousand dollars ($170,000) currently and if they give Mr. Keller his and Mrs. Giagnoni hers, they will still have one hundred and eighteen thousand dollars ($118,000) left. The monthly payments once everyone gets going will be around six thousand dollars ($6,000) a month. Motion made by Alderman Headlee and seconded by Alderman Winkleman to approve Amber Giagnoni’s request for an additional thirty two thousand five hundred dollars ($32,500) loan for her childcare business as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes”.
Mayor Pollard asked the council to consider approving a Notice of Intent to award a bid to Kieffer Brothers Construction for the low bid received for the Blue Goose and High Service pump station projects. Sandra Irvine informed the council that PPMI had the lowest bid but did not get it because they did not follow the bid rules. Alderman Knight questioned how much longer it would be until the city received funding for this project. Mrs. Irvine answered that as far as she knows, City Engineer John Acree filed the paperwork that day (March 1st) and they should be receiving funding soon. Motion made by Alderman Knight and seconded by Alderman Winkleman to approve the Notice of Intent to award a bid to Kieffer Brothers Construction as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes”.
Mayor Pollard then asked the council to consider The Parks and Cemetery Department’s request to seek permission to purchase a new tractor. He stated that they have three (3) bids from 4R Equipment, LeMond’s, and Hillyard’s Farm Services. Alderman Knight stated that they want to replace an early 1980’s style tractor. They spent ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in 2014 in repairs and right now the hydraulic system is bad and that the PTO is not working properly. The cost of repairs is exceeding the value of the tractor. He recommended the purchase of a new tractor from 4R Equipment because of the lowest price and the best trade in value offer. Mayor Pollard added that 4R Equipment’s price is twenty nine thousand five hundred dollars ($29,500), LeMond’s price is thirty five thousand four hundred dollars ($35,400), and Hillyard’s Farm Services price is thirty five thousand nine hundred and ninety six dollars ($35,996). Alderman Yearby asked if the problem with the old tractor is because of maintenance issues. Alderman Knight stated that it has been a problem in the past, but now they are on schedule for the maintenance. Alderman Knight and Davis both agreed that the tractor is utilized a lot at Burrell Park & Campground. Motion made by Alderman Knight and seconded by Alderman Winkleman to approve the purchase of a new tractor for the Parks and Cemetery Department from 4R Equipment for twenty nine thousand five hundred dollars ($29,500) as presented. Motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard then asked the council to approve the rescheduling of the Tuesday, March 15th, 2016 meeting to Monday, March 14th, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. in order to avoid a conflict with Election Day. Motion made by Alderman Winkleman and seconded by Alderman Davis to approve the rescheduling of the next meeting as approved. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
Reports and/or updates from Mayor Pollard
Mayor Pollard informed the council that the city has planned a March Madness town wide clean-up day running Monday March 14th through Friday March 18th. There will be three (3) large dumpsters placed at the Newton Wire and Cable Building for the public to clean up their properties. The city encourages everyone to take advantage of this opportunity and help take pride in our town. He added that on Thursday and Friday if you do not have a truck, you can call the city office at 382-8118 and give them your address they will make arrangements to come by and pick up what needs to be hauled off. This is only for people without a truck or trailer and you must have everything stacked in front of your house at the curb.
Reports from Standing Committees
Alderman Davis stated that shutoff day is coming up so please pay your electric and water bills.
Alderman Winkleman commented that the compost site needs cleaned up.
Business or Comments from Visitors
None
Motion made by Alderman Headlee and seconded by Alderman Davis to go into closed session to discuss property issues with possible action to follow. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes”.
At 5:51 p.m. the council went into closed session.
Motion made by Alderman Headlee and seconded by Alderman Winkleman to return to open session. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes”.
At 6:10 p.m. the council returned to open session.
Motion made by Alderman Knight and seconded by Alderman Winkleman to approve the Mayor to gather details and negotiate a deal for property with council having final approval. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes”.
Motion was made by Alderman Davis and seconded by Alderman Hays to adjourn. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman answering “yes.”
At 6:12 p.m. the council adjourned.
Brian K. Allen, City Clerk
Jeff Pollard, Mayor
