Mt. Carmel City Council Agenda

AGENDA

CITY OF MOUNT CARMEL

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Monday December 3, 2018 at 5:00 pm

* Call to Order

* Pledge of Allegiance

* Invocation

* Roll Call

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

* 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 John Lockhart

* Kelli Storckman Francis Speth

* Mike Gidcumb

* Dave Easter

BUSINESS:

* First Reading Tax Levy Ordinance

* Presentation of Consent Agenda

o Approve the subdivision of property belonging to C. Michael Witters

o Approve Meeting Date - 2019

o Approve the minutes of the regular Council meeting held 11/19/2018

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

10 Year Old To Be Saluted As Hometown Hero

During tomorrow’s Mt. Carmel Christmas Parade, be watching for Wabash County Sheriff Derek Morgan as he’ll have a special passenger with him.

Before the parade, Morgan will present 10-year-old Brody Peach with a hometown hero medal. Brody was the young man who found the missing 2-year girl last month in the Mesa Lake area.

Morgan said there were approximately 100 people looking for the little girl last month and without Brody’s help, it’s hard to say how long the search would have taken and what the shape the girl would have been in once found. Morgan will have banners on his vehicle saluting Brody as a Hometown Hero.

Area Jobless Rates Edge Up In October

Area unemployment rates increased slightly last month according to the latest figures from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The October jobless rate in Wabash County stood at 4.4%, compared to the 4.2% mark in September, and the 4% level last October. Unemployment increased or remained unchanged in 21 southern Illinois counties, with the only decrease in the Southern Region being recorded in Alexander County compared to one year-ago. Hamilton County had southern Illinois’ lowest jobless rate at 3.8% while Hardin County had the highest at 7.4%.

Knox County Man Arrested On Meth Charge By MCPD

On 11/29/2018 at approximately 9:00 pm, a Mt. Carmel Police Officer stopped a 1995 Ford Ranger operated by 51 year old Robert P. Wells of Wheatland, Indiana.  During the traffic stop the arresting officer requested the assistance of the MCPD K-9.  K-9 Ace conducted a free air narcotics sniff of the vehicle.  K-9 Ace indicated the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.  A search was conducted and police recovered a number of drug paraphernalia items along with US currency and approximately 48 grams of a white substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine.   Wells was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged with possession of methamphetamine.  Wells is being held pending the posting of bond.  

Two Arrested BY MCPD On Various Charges

On 11/28/2018, Mt. Carmel Police went to 1008 W. 3rd Street to arrest 39 year old Joshua F. Seals of Mt. Carmel.  Gibson County authorities contacted MCPD that Seals was wanted on a Gibson County failure to register as a sex offender warrant.  MCPD Officer went to the residence and placed Seals under arrest.  During the arrest of Seals, MCPD Officers located hypodermic needles and other drug paraphernalia in the home.  Those findings lead to the arrest of 41 year old Judith A. Whitten of Princeton, Indiana.  Seals and Whitten were transferred to the Wabash County Jail where Whitten was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of hypodermic needles.  Seals was transferred to Gibson County.  

Legislation May Give Harmony Way Bridge New Life

Harmony Way Bridge over the Wabash River between White County, Illinois, and Posey County, Indiana, may soon have a new life. The engineering marvel built in 1930 has sat unused since being permanently closed in 2012 due to structural issues. Federal law that created the White County Bridge Commission to purchase the structure from a private company in 1941 has prevented the two states from being able to take advantage of popular ideas to repurpose the bridge since its closing. That is on the verge of changing, thanks in large part to the Restore Harmony Way Bridge Act, H.R. 6793, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously Tuesday.

"I am happy that the hard work of so many people of both sides of the Wabash is about to come to fruition," said Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-15), whose district includes the Illinois portion of the bridge. "In particular, I want to thank Congressman Larry Bucshon (R, Indiana-8), who authored the legislation, which conveys the structure to a New Harmony Bridge Bi-State Commission established by Illinois and Indiana."

That new commission will be tasked with deciding the future of the bridge, which connected Illinois Route 14 with Indiana State Road 66, known as Church Street in New Harmony, Indiana.

Every House member of the Illinois and Indiana delegations cosponsored H.R. 6793. Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Todd Young (R, Indiana).

Wikipedia Photo

Buckskin man arrested on multiple charges

On November 25, 2018, at 9:30 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a disturbance in the 8500 block of South 850 East. While enroute to the scene one of the participants left the scene in a White Ford Escape. Officers located the vehicle and began an investigation into the disturbance. During her investigation Deputy Robb spoke with all parties and upon completing her investigation she placed 43 year old Robert Ingle of Buckskin, the driver of the Ford Escape into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the Gibson County Jail Mr. Ingle was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and Battery. He has since posted a $750 bond. 

Assisting Deputy Robb in her investigation was Deputy U.B. Smith and Oakland City Officer Tom Rohl. 

All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Traffic stop leads to arrest of Alabama man on Marijuana charge

On November 26, 2018, at 10 p.m. Deputy Austin Farrington conducted a traffic stop on a White 2009 Honda Accord for speeding on US 41 near CR 575 North. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Farrington identified the driver as 20 year old Jacobie Allen of Huntsville Alabama. While speaking with the driver Deputy Farrington smelled the odor of Raw Marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. At that point Deputy Farrington began a roadside drug investigation that resulted in a total amount of 51 grams of Marijuana were found inside the vehicle. Mr. Allen was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Possession of Marijuana. He has since posted a $550 bond.

Assisting Deputy Farrington in his investigation was Trooper Jonathan Lukeman. 

All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Felony Warrant For Violating OP Lands Mt. Carmel Man In Jail

11/25/2018-Mt. Carmel Police arrested 33 year old Matthew R. Howard of Mt. Carmel at his residence in the 1100 block of Market Street in Mt. Carmel.  Police knew Howard had a felony warrant for violating an order of protection.  Police took Howard into custody and transported him to the Wabash County Jail where he was held pending the posting of $1,000.00 cash bond.  

Mt. Carmel Man Jailed On Domestic Battery Charge

11/25/2018-Mt. Carmel Police arrested 23 year old Kyle Dyson of Mt. Carmel after police were called to the 900 W. 1st Street in reference to a domestic situation.  Police arrived on scene and were told that Dyson was intoxicated and struck a female family member.  Police placed Dyson in custody and transported him to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged with Domestic Battery.  Dyson was held pending the posting of bond.