The Regular Meeting of the
Carthage City Council was held
Motion was made by Alderman
Walker, seconded by Fleming to approve the April 25th and 28th
meeting minutes. All six Aldermen answered “aye”.
Clerk Graham read the meeting
minutes from the Plan Commission meeting of May 4th regarding Martin
and Tammy Belshaw’s request to use the property at 549 N
Motion was made by Alderman
Smith, seconded by
Larry Foulk addressed the
Council with concerns of how neglected the grounds and buildings were at the
former College. He inquired into the future plans of the buildings, and what,
if anything, the City could do improve the situation. Mayor Nightingale
informed him of the Health Board’s recent visit to the campus and the list they
were generating which would have to be addressed or fines would be
imposed.
City Attorney Glidden
discussed the ability to shorten the time given to property owners for failing
to mow their yards. Codes enforcer, Ron Schulz, was instructed by Mayor
Nightingale to get a list of offenders and give them to Glidden for him to
generate letters. Failure to respond will be grounds for fines, or the City
will mow and place liens on the properties.
Motion was made by Alderman
Walker, seconded by Fleming to approve the April, year-end, budgetary report.
All six Aldermen voted “yes”.
Mayor Nightingale commended
all the departments for monitoring their budgets and coming in under the given
numbers.
Clerk Graham reported that the
premiums for next year’s health insurance had arrived. There was a 12% increase
of $61.00 per month per employee. This exceeds the annual amount budgeted by
$3,600.00
Motion was made by Alderman
Walker, seconded by Fleming to stay with the current health insurance provider.
All six Aldermen voted “yes”.
Clerk Graham read the meeting
minutes of the Plan Commission meeting of May 4th concerning Dan
Neally’s application to construct a self-storage facility on the lot at the
intersection of
Motion was made by Alderman
Walker, seconded by Fleming to take the Plan Commission’s recommendation, which
denies the application. Alderman Duffy, Smith, Fleming, Bentzinger, and Walker
voted “yes”. Alderman Neally abstained.
Clerk Graham went on with
reading the Plan Commission’s meeting minutes regarding Carolyn Clark’s
application. She had requested a
variance with respect to the building of an attached two-car garage on the
north side of the modular home recently erected on her property. The north
boundary requires a set back of 10 feet. The proposed garage would require the
building to be within approximately 6 feet of the north line of the
The Plan Commission
recommended and voted unanimously, that a variance be granted so that the North
set-back line would be 6 feet rather than 10 feet, upon Carolyn Clark receiving
written permission from the property owners in Lots 1 and 8 in block 3, Lots 3,4,5 and 6 in Block 30; Lots 3 and 4 in Block 41 and Lot 1
in Block 40.
Motion was made by Alderman
Walker, seconded by Fleming to approve the Plan Commission’s recommendation of
acceptance, contingent on the signatures as above. All six Aldermen voted
“yes”.
Police Chief Waddell reported
on the Board of Health’s visit to the former College buildings. They obtained
numerous photos, which they are sending to the current real estate agent in the
Alderman Smith reported that
the buildings were worse than the recent visit he had made to the campus, and
there was more vandalism. He reported two feet of standing water in the
unsecured boiler room. Additionally, the cafeteria building was unsecured with
no door at all on one end.
The Police Chief will serve
notice to the owners to correct the violations or fines and liens will once
again be imposed.
Alderman Smith reported that
the new police car would be arriving within a couple weeks.
Alderman Smith asked Scott
Floyd, who was in attendance, to update the council on his medical status.
Scott presented a document
from the neurosurgeon, which listed three restrictions. He is to report back
with the doctor in six weeks. He stated that the Dr. was going to write the
Mayor a letter concerning his status.
Alderman Smith suggested Floyd
be placed on administrative leave again until the results of the state police
investigation are known.
Following discussion, motion
was made by Alderman Smith, seconded by Fleming to have Floyd see an additional
physician for an evaluation. When that report, and the letter from the
neurosurgeon had arrived, a special committee meeting would be held. The
Committee would then have the authority to make a decision about bringing Scott
back or not. All six Aldermen voted “yes”.
Smith reported that the DARE
graduation is scheduled for May 12th at
Motion was made by Alderman
Duffy, seconded by
Motion was made by Alderman
Walker, seconded by Bentzinger to pay the April bills with the following
exceptions:
·
Hold Rees’ bill until the seeding has been
completed to our satisfaction
·
Hold PSBA’s bill until the IDOT study had arrived
·
Patrick Engineering’s bill be
reduced by $1800 as discussed with Steve Van Hook by the Mayor.
·
Additionally, the Council agreed to pay for the
Police Car upon arrival ($17,638.71)
All six Aldermen voted “yes”.
Mayor Nightingale reported
that the
Rich Sealock reported on
potential savings of $10,000.00 per year, if the City could erect a storage
building at the water plant for bulk chemicals. He is going to inquire further
into this opportunity.
The concrete bids were
received from
Motion was made by Alderman
Fleming, seconded by Duffy to accept the lower bid from Great River Ready-Mix
of $74.00/yd. for SI Mix, and $7.00/yd for the fiber mesh. All six Aldermen
voted “yes”.
Motion was made to adjourn by
Alderman Walker, seconded by Duffy at
Katherine Graham
City Clerk