The Carmi City Council Meeting was held on Tuesday, September 4, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Room of the Municipal Building at 225 East Main Street for the regularly scheduled 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, Tracy Nelson, Lance Yearby, Mike Knight, Doug Hays, Jeremy Courson, and Sheila Jo Headlee.
Minutes from the August 21, 2018, council meeting were presented. Motion was made by Alderman Knight and seconded by Alderman Hays to approve the minutes as presented. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman present answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard asked the Council to accept/approve the low bid for the Epworth Road MFT Project. Mayor Pollard stated Brown and Roberts Engineering firm held the bid opening for the Epworth Road project August 28, 2018. Four bid packets were received as a result of our invitation to bid. The bids were as follows:
- ET Simonds Construction $71,414.92
- O’Daniel Trucking $66,000.00
- Kieffer Brothers $49,990.00
- Samron Contracting $48,764.00
Alderman Headlee made a motion to accept the bid from Samron Contracting of $48,764.00 for the Epworth Road MFT Project. The motion was seconded by Alderman Winkleman. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman present answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard presented Resolution 09.04.18; A resolution of support and commitment of local funds from the Revolving Loan Fund was presented for approval. Alderman Hays made a motion to approve Resolution 09.04.18; A resolution of support and commitment of local funds from the Revolving Loan Fund. The motion was seconded by Alderman Knight. The motion carried on roll call by each Alderman present answering “yes.”
Mayor Pollard introduced Adam Allen, Director of White County Ambulance Service, to discuss the proposed public safety sales tax referendum. Mr. Allen gave some background and history of the ambulance service stating when he assumed the director’s position, the ambulance service was about $182,000 in the red. Over the past two years, the service has been able to operate in the black. Mr. Allen stated the ambulance service has been downgraded to BLS, basic life support, from ALS, advanced life support, due to staffing.
He stated basically this means paramedics are not able to do their job properly. Mr. Allen stated if this tax were to pass in November, the money would be used for salaries, to bring the service back to ALS, and also used for equipment. The proposed tax is a sales tax increase of 0.5% which would raise approximately $500,000.00 per year. Mr. Allen stated in 2017, they received approximately 2100 ambulance calls. In the current downgraded BLS position, if ALS services are needed, we must pay an outside paramedic approximately $300.00 each time they are asked to assist. Questions were presented from the council and local citizens. Mr. David Edwards asked how the money would be handed out. Mr. Allen stated the money would be put in a proprietary account. Mr. Allen stated if the tax passed on the November ballot, the tax would not go into effect until July 2019 with money dispersed in September 2019. Alderman Hays asked if the tax passed, would the ambulance service be able to be staffed to obtain ALS service. Mr. Allen said yes, it would be. Mr. Allen stated the goal is to have 8 paramedics and 3 stand by. Mr. Allen concluded by stating this is a life or death situation, without the ambulance service, the response time could be detrimental.
Reports and/or updates from Mayor Pollard
Mayor Pollard announced the dates have been set for the Annual Halloween Campout at Burrell Woods Campground for October 26th and 27th. More details will follow at the next meeting as far as reservations and activities. Also, the new railings for the culvert to the 66 acres have been finished allowing access to the new property.
The 74th annual Chamber of Commerce Dinner will be held on Monday, October 1, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. Reservations must be turned in by Friday, September 17th. The cost is $20.00 per person. Please let the Mayor know if you are planning to attend so he can notify Lauren Higginson how many to reserve for the City of Carmi table.
Mayor Pollard announced the following “The EPA requires that I announce in the meeting that I have given the go ahead for the Sewer Department to do a 50-foot sewer main extension by the mini-mall on the west side of town to accommodate any future development. The City will not be reimbursed for the $700.00 spent on this project.
Adjournment
At 6:15 p.m. the meeting adjourned.
Cynthia J. Attebury, City Clerk
Jeff Pollard, Mayor
