Mt. Carmel City Council Agenda

AGENDA

CITY OF MOUNT CARMEL

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Monday April 23, 2018 at 5:00pm

·         Call to Order

·         Pledge of Allegiance

·         Invocation

·         Roll Call

·         Visitors to address the Council     (topic discussed by visitor(s) is limited to 5 minutes)

o   Terry Beckerman -  Riverfest

·         Mayor’s Report

COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:

·         Eric Ikemire                        Streets, Cemeteries and Parks

·         Joseph Judge                     Finance and Senior Citizens

·         Justin Dulgar                      Water and Sewer

·         Rod Rodriguez                   Fire, Health & Safety, City Hall, Garbage and Civil Defense

STAFF REPORTS:

·         Rudy Witsman

·         Kelli Storckman

·         Mike Gidcumb  

BUSINESS:

·         First Reading Ordinance #1087 – Water Tap Fees  

·         Presentation of Consent Agenda

o   Second Reading Ordinance #1086 - 2018-2019 Budget

o   Ordinance to amend 2017-2018 Budget

o   Resolution takeover of the Revolving Loan 

o   Resolution for Evans and Marcum

o   Approve the minutes of the regular Council meeting held 4/9/2018

o   Approve payment of all bills bearing the proper signature

·         Removal of items from the Consent Agenda

·         Consideration of Consent Agenda

·         Consideration of items removed from the Consent Agenda

·         Executive Session (if needed)

·         Motion to Adjourn

Upcoming Program at Beall Woods State Park

Waterfalls, dragonflies, fungi, flowers, birds, BASE jumpers, sunsets, the moon...the list goes on and on with thousands of amazing images that Norm has captured over the past 55 years. His love of photography began at the age of 19 while taking pictures in Europe during his time in the military. Don't miss this opportunity to see some of Norm's favorite photos and hear the stories from the photographer behind the camera. The program will take place at 2pm and again at 3pm inside of the park's Visitor Center on Saturday, April 28th. If you have any questions about the program, please call 618-298-2441.

Photo by: Norm Cline  (Short-eared owl)

Arrests Made in Break-In At LCS

On March 24th, 2018 the Wabash County Sheriff's Office was called to the Lancaster Christian School reference a break in.  After forcing their way  inside the Christian School, the offenders took a sum of cash and checks. K9 Roy was used for an article search to locate any items of evidentiary value around the perimeter of the building.  A trooper with the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigations Unit also responded to process the scene. 

On April 18th, 2018 two suspects were identified and interviews conducted.  Following those interviews 23 year old Justin K. Prater, of Lancaster and 36 year old Joseph A. Stevens also of Lancaster were taken into custody.  Both Prater and Stevens made court apperances today in Wabash County Circuit Court and charged with Burglary a Class 1 Felony.  Bond has been set at $40,000 or 10%, $4,000 cash.   

36 year old Joseph A. Stevens of Lancaster

23 year old Justin K. Prater, of Lancaster

2018 Wabash Ribberfest Schedule Released

Friday, April 27, 2018

4pm-10pm The Wine Garden @ Neikirk’s $5 for Two-Day Wristband-Free Wine Glass while they last-Must Be 21

5pm-9pm Ribberfest Welcome Center Schedules/Lost & Found/Questions Answered Free

5pm-10pm Backyard Team BBQ & Large Food Vendors Open

5pm-9pm Art At The Museum In the Wabash County Museum - Free Admission & People’s Choice Awards

6pm-9:30pm FREE Live Entertainment on the “Ribberfest Live” Main Stage

6:00pm-7:00pm - “Dave Parman” Folk & Rock Favorites

7:00pm-9:30pm - “Alaina Blake & Dylan Hawf” Traditional Folk & Bluegress

7:30pm-9:30pm Free Family Movie - “WONDER” (Open lot in the Center of the West Side of the 400 Block)

Saturday, April 28, 2018

9am-8pm Ribberfest Welcome Center Schedules/Lost & Found/Questions Answered Free

9am-8pm Backyard Team BBQ For Sale @ Select Vendors

9am-8pm Large Food Vendors offering a variety of menus (Some Serving Breakfast @ 6am)

10am-1pm Thunder on the Hilltop Benefit Run (Motorcycle)

10am-4pm Family Fun Area including Inflatables, Face Painting & More

11am-7pm Art At The Museum In the Wabash County Museum - Free Admission & People’s Choice Awards

Noon-3pm Dulcimer Friends Performance and Instruction @ Senior Center Open to Everyone

7am-3pm Smoke On The Wabash Backyard BBQ Competition

Noon-8pm FREE Live Entertainment on the “Ribberfest Live” Main Stage

12:00pm-2:30pm - “The Deciders” Delta Blues

3:00pm-5:00pm - “Bones Jugs” Folk & Swing

5:30pm-6:30pm - “Dennis Stroughmatt et L’Esprit Creole” Traditional Illinois French

6:30pm-8:00pm - “Creole Stomp” Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco & Swamp Pop/Blues

1pm-3pm Thunder On The Hilltop Motorcycle Show ($5 Entry Fee) 3pm - Winners Presentation-Main Stage

2pm-6pm Kiwanis “Wabash Cannonball Downhill Derby”

4-8pm The Wine Garden @ Neikirk’s $5 for Two-Day Wristband-Free Wine Glass while they last-Must Be 21

FREE PARKING – FREE ADMISSION – FREE ENTERTAINMENT For more information go to Facebook (Wabash Ribberfest), www.Ribberfest.com or call 618-263-2093

INDOT Work On SR 57 To Start Monday

PIKE/GIBSON COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces lane closures for State Road 57 between Oakland City and Petersburg beginning on or around Monday, April 30.  

Contractors will begin restricting lanes on S.R. 57 both north and southbound from S.R. 64 to just under a half-mile south of S.R. 56. Crews will be working to patch, mill and resurface S.R. 57 for just over 12 miles. Motorists should expect to see traffic control devices including signage, flaggers and orange barrels and cones during the course of the project. Work is expected to last until late July or early August depending upon weather conditions.

Motorists should prepare for traffic delays. Leave extra time to get to your destination and do not drive distracted. INDOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert near crews.

Domestic Issue Results In Arrest

4/18/2018-Mt. Carmel Police arrested 41 year old  Frank E. Shoultz of Mt. Carmel after police were called to a domestic issue at 930 Chestnut Street.  Police caught up to Shoultz in the 700 block of Walnut Street and when police tried to stop him, he took off running.  Police were able to subdue Shoultz and place him under arrest.  Shoultz was charged with resisting a peace officer, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of contraband in a penal institution after police located narcotic in the sole of shoes belonging to Shoultz.  Shoultz was also cited for possession of cannabis.  Shoultz was held pending the posting of bond.  

Traffic Stop Leads To Various Charges

Mt. Camel Police Department arrested 23 year old Justin K. Prater of Mt. Carmel after he was stopped for a traffic violation in the 1200 block of N. Walnut Street.  During the traffic stop it was discovered that Prater was operating a motor vehicle on a suspended driver's license.  Prater was arrested and charged with driving while license is suspended, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and he was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia after police located a smoking device in his vehicle.  Prater was held pending the posting of bond. 

Princeton Woman Jailed On FTA Warrant

Mt. Carmel Police arrested 27 year old Kendra L. Fuhrman of Princeton, Indiana after she came to the Mt. Carmel Police Department looking for a hotel room to stay at for the evening.  A records check indicated that she was wanted on a Wabash County failure to appear warrant.   Fuhrman was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail.  Fuhrman was later released after posting $200.00 cash bond.  

Roberts Jailed On Felony Theft Warrant

04/16/2018-Mt. Carmel Police arrested 34 year old Gavin M. Roberts of Mt. Carmel on a warrant for felony theft.  Police located Roberts walking in the 1100 block of N. Mulberry Street and knew he was wanted on the Wabash County Warrant.  Roberts was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was held pending the posting of bond.  

Avoid planting ornamental pear trees

Ornamental pear trees, most commonly known as Bradford pears, have been a popular landscaping tree in Indiana for decades.

So popular that they are crowding out native Indiana trees.

For that reason, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources encourages homeowners and landscapers to avoid planting such trees and to replace them when possible.

“Over time different varieties of pear have cross pollinated in our urban areas, allowing them to rapidly spread into our natural resources,” said Megan Abraham, director of the DNR Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology. 

Cultivated forms of this invasive species are most accurately known as Pyrus calleryana or Callery pear tree. Commonly available ornamental pear cultivars, all of which are invasive and should be avoided, include Bradford, New Bradford®, Cleveland select, autumn blaze, Aristocrat®, capitol, Chanticleer®, and dozens more.

In addition to being invasive, these cultivars, which are known for their striking white flowers, typically don’t last long. They are structurally weaker and more easily damaged by storms than native trees.

Carrie Tauscher, urban forestry coordinator with the DNR Division of Forestry, says that evidence of the trees’ rapid spread is easy to see.

“Just take a look for glossy leaved, egg-shaped trees in highway interchanges,” Tauscher said. “It’s common to find them in unmown areas under utility lines and in lots and fields initially cleared for construction that are then left fallow.”

Stopping the spread of this invasive plant means selecting alternate trees for yards and forested property. The best tree to replace any invasive tree species is one that is native to a particular region.

If you are looking for an alternative flowering tree for Indiana, serviceberry trees, which have similar white blooms in the spring and fruits that attract wildlife, are one option. Eastern redbuds, which grow quickly, with eye-catching lavender flowers in the spring are another option.

To learn more about native trees that are great for landscaping, visit the Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society page at inpaws.org/landscaping.