On Monday, Wabash County Board of Commissioners Chairman Scott West and Mt. Carmel Mayor Joe Judge signed proclamations to honor April 1st-7th as Public Health Week.
Health Department administrator Judy Wissel said she has challenged WCHD staff to “give back” this week as the department is collecting donations for the Lunch Wagon. She also said there’ll be social media posts this week about public health and that “we are so much more than COVID”.
City officials aren’t sure what to expect, but they feel they’ve done their best to prepare for next Monday’s Total Solar Eclipse. State officials are predicting thousands of visitors will descend on the southern part of Illinois concentrating on areas, like Mt. Carmel, that will experience totality. In fact, Mt. Carmel will have one of the longest durations of totality for the once in a lifetime event. At yesterday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Joe Judge said the city is ready to welcome visitors, no matter how many there are…
The Mt. Carmel Airport is one location sure to see lots of visitors. Airport manager Luis Garcia told the council yesterday that he already has reservations from up to 60 pilots who will fly into the airport for the eclipse. He said if that number increases much more, the airport might be forced to close to additional aviation traffic.
Judge showed off brightly colored shirts yesterday that city workers will wear on Monday to add more visibility as they are deployed to areas they’re needed. City Hall will be closed next Monday for the eclipse.
Garbage commissioner Susan Zimmerman reminded residents to set their trash out Sunday night as Republic Services is expected to be in town by 4am to make their rounds and be out of the city before any potential traffic headaches arise. The 2024 solar eclipse will be visible over approximately 128 miles of Illinois.
Totality enters Illinois as it crosses the Missouri state line southwest in Carbondale at 1:58 p.m. The eclipse will follow a diagonal line crossing over Fairfield and exit Illinois at Mount Carmel at 2:06 p.m, giving the city more than 4 minutes of total darkness.
AGENDA
CITY OF MOUNT CARMEL
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, April 1st 2024 at 4:00 pm
· Call to Order
o Pledge of Allegiance
o Roll Call
· Approve Minutes
o Minutes of meeting held 03/18/2024.
· Visitors (topic discussed by visitor(s) is limited to 5 minutes)
· Reports and Communications
o Mayor Judge
o Commissioner Meador Streets, Cemeteries and Parks
o Commissioner Ikemire Finance and Senior Citizens
o Commissioner Meeks Water and Sewer
o Commissioner Zimmerman Fire, Health & Safety, City Hall and Garbage
· Staff Reports
o Ryan Turner Derek McCullough Luis Garcia
o Michael McWilliams Francis Speth Mike Gidcumb
o WEMA Representative
New Business
o Consent Agenda
§ Pay all bills by providing proper signatures.
o Removal of items from the Consent Agenda
o Ordinance 2104-Annual Budget-1st Reading
o Resolution 704-MFT expenditures for IDOT’s 9th Street project
o Open bids for mower
o Old Business
o Executive Session
o Motion to Adjourn
o Liquor Control Meeting-Immediately after council hearing
Consideration for Family Dollar to sell packaged liquor
REGULAR MEETING Monday, April 1, 2024
AGENDA
1) Call to order:
2) Approve minutes of previous meeting:
3) Commissioner’s reports:
4) Officer’s reports:
5) Old Business:
a. ARPA Ordinance.
b. County Highway Building.
c. Lawnmower for Froman Park.
6) New Business:
a. Tara Buerster with the U of I Extension Office along with other staff members to update the Board on current activities.
b. Bid results for Road District #6 Bridge Project on E 1100 Road.
c. Resolution No. 2024-05, a funding resolution for the Poor Farm Road Resurfacing Project.
d. Joint Agreement for Poor Farm Road Resurfacing Project.
e. Request from the Retail Merchants Committee for a donation to the 2024 Christmas Uptown festival and approval from the local tourism committee.
f. Authorize chairman to sign three deeds for Wabash County as trustee for properties sold through the Tax Sale process.
7) Executive Session:
8) Correspondence:
9) Approval of payment of claims presented:
10) Adjournment:
On 3/27/24, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Mark A. VanVleet, age 53, of Mt. Carmel for Unlawful Use/Possession of a Weapon by Felon. Police responded to the area of the 800 block of North Walnut Street where it was reported that VanVleet had entered Autozone armed with a sword and a large knife saying people in brown were after him and he was scared. VanVleet left the store and entered Burger King where he placed the weapons in the trash can before taking off running south on Walnut Street. During this time, VanVleet continued to talk about people being after him and that he should get rid of the weapons. Additional callers reported VanVleet running near the Wabash County Courthouse and behind the police department. Officers knew VanVleet often resides in the 300 block of N Mulberry so they responded to the area. Officers were able to locate VanVleet, a past convicted felon, where he was taken into custody. Officers found no evidence to indicate anyone was after VanVleet. The sword was approximately 27 inches long while the Bowie knife had a length of 15 inches. VanVleet was later transported to the White County Jail by the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office where he is being held pending a pre-trial detention determination by the court.
On March 26, 2024, at 5:13 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a personal injury accident involving one vehicle on County Road 550 East near County Road 575 South. Upon arriving Deputy Logan Lashbrook observed a Blue 1995 Toyota Celica had left the roadway and struck a ditch. While speaking with the driver 65 year old Dennis Bradfield of Boonville Deputy Lashbrook detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage. At that point he began a roadside DUI investigation. Once his investigation was completed Deputy Lashbrook placed Mr. Bradfield into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the Jail Mr. Bradfield was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.
Assisting Deputy Lashbrook in his investigation was Deputy Quinten Might.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
On March 26, 2024, at 5:47 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a disturbance of a disturbance in the 900 block of South Lincoln Street in Fort Branch. Law enforcement units were dispatched to the scene and upon arriving all parties were separated and Deputy Quinten Might began an investigation into the incident. During the investigation Deputy Might found probable cause to arrest 38 year old Elizabeth Feuquay on a Felony level battery. Once his investigation was completed Ms. Feuquay was transported to the Gibson County Jail.
Assisting Deputy Might in his investigation was Haubstadt Officer Bryan Munnier.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
City and school officials are working together attempting to alleviate traffic backups at the elementary school. At last Monday’s City Council meeting, city clerk Ryan Turner said the proposal is to make a small section of 13th Street “no parking”….
Turner said the no parking spots would help ease congestion especially before and after school. Turner told District #348 Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer, who was at the meeting, that the city would work with his concerns over losing too many parking spots around the district office on 13th Street. Since an ordinance will need to be adopted, the proposal was put on hold until one can be drafted.
The father of a Lady Aces golfer is proposing the city get rid of the tennis courts by the swimming pool in favor of a driving range. Zed Moore is the father of golfer Zeme Moore and he laid out the details of his idea to the city council...
Moore suggested that the driving range could be lit since there is already power and lights at the proposed area. He suggested the driving range could be named in honor of long-time golf coach John White. Mayor Joe Judge said since Moore’s proposal wasn’t listed on the meeting’s agenda, it couldn’t be approved until at least their next meeting on April 1st. Commissioner Eric Ikemire suggested Moore work with the golf course committee with this proposal.
This is the proposed area for a driving range at the golf course.
A decision has been delayed on whether to allow another Mt. Carmel business to sell liquor. Family Dollar has applied to sell liquor at their new location at 9th and Walnut Street and their application was on the agenda at last week's city council meeting. But, Joe Judge, who serves as the city’s liquor control commissioner, said he was delaying a decision on the application because Family Dollar officials failed to submit the required payment with the liquor license application. Judge said, until that happens, the application is on hold.