City of Carmi employees are getting an increase in their Christmas bonuses this year. Carmi City Council voted to double the usual bonus amount at Tuesday nights meeting. What was $60 plus $5 per year of service will now for this year be $120 plus $10 per year of service. In total, leaders say it will cost $10,650 plus whatever the police department amounts come to. Mayor Bill Stendeback, who typically has been looking for ways to save money since his assumption of the mayor position was the one who recommended the increase.
I’ll be honest; I think that’s ridiculous…that small of an amount especially for the guys that have been here 20 years. One that’s been here 32 years would’ve received $220 as a Christmas bonus after 32 years. So I propose that we double that.
The bonuses will be paid in Chamber bucks rather than cash which serves two fold. It helps keep the money in Carmi. And second, it helps the employees by not having to pay taxes on those bonuses. Alderman Doug Hays who said he was ok with it if that’s what everyone was in favor of and who did vote for it was the only one with any dissent saying he only gets $20 as a bonus at his job he’s been at 35 years.
Council also heard a 10-minute update on the Birth to Five Illinois Program from Regional Council Manager Janice Crow. Other highlights included approval of roof work on two of the airport hangars. Unanimously save for alderperson Jeremy Courson who wasn’t in attendance, council voted to spend a total of $38,500 on that project. The airport fund has $96,000 to cover the work. Last Saturday, the airport hosted a crash response class which was attended by more than 40 individuals. The mayor said plans are underway to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the airport on June 6th of 2026.
Council also approved a bid from Guisewhite Excavating and Recycling for property demolition of the dilapidated eyesore at 620 Oak Street. It will cost the city $17,700. Shafer Excavating and O’Daniel Trucking also submitted bids.
Leaders also approved the Carmi Library budget for 2026 in the amount of $135,500. Last year’s budget was $124,900. Alderperson Greg Knight who sits on the library board said the library is well utilized with more than 2,000 physical books checked out annually.
Council adjourned without an executive session at about 6:06pm. They’ll be back for a special meeting on Thursday morning at 9am to hear presentations from local banks hoping to help the city address the exorbitant credit card processing fees we’ve been covering for months now. There’s only discussion set for the meeting with no action to follow those presentations.