Carmi City Council is writing out checks to Brown and Roberts Engineering regarding multiple projects totaling $30,364.11. Motion on paying those invoices as well as several others took up the bulk of the 45 minute meeting Tuesday evening. The money spent was already approved to be so, in some cases some time ago; however law requires council to also vote to pay those bills as invoices come in.
Also Tuesday night, leaders minus aldermen Greg Knight and Jeremy Courson who were absent, agreed to formally pay Wiggs Excavating $42,564.90 for water main work. Additionally, payments and change orders were approved for Elevation Coatings and Restoration as work continues on the water tower. We also got a peek at what the tower will look like when it’s complete.
Brad Attebury, City Supervisor, says that work will continue most likely for another month to 45 days. Other procedural moves made Tuesday night include support for an Illinois Department of Natural Resources OSLAD grant application, a payment to Moran Economic Development for TIF Administration and Audit, and a payment to Conger & Elliot for attorneys fees amounting to $247.50.
Council also formally agreed to close alleyways near the Webb-Hay House on October 9th for the White County Farm to Table event. This year, the Carmi-White County Schools Foundation has taken over the event.
The electric cost adjustment you see on your light and water bill was set for the next 6 months with no change. That rate is .0854 according to officials.
The final two of sixteen agenda items required discussion with Jim Roberts of the engineering firm regarding bid tabulation for a Sycamore Street watermain replacement and an IEPA loan for a 200,000 gallon ground storage tank. Council did choose to move forward with the Sycamore Street project. The project will require the city to borrow $105,389 at 1% interest over 30 years. Wiggs Excavating will make more than half a million on the job funded by IEPA loan, grant with a DCEO kicker. Work is expected to begin in the spring and should take about 4 months according to estimates.
Leaders balked at the ground storage tank given that the cost would be more than $1.5 million with the city having to cover $1,089,000 over 40 years with 30% grant/70% loan. Unanimously, council members present chose to abandon that potential project.
In reports from the Mayor, Bill Stendeback says he’s not giving up on the credit card processing saying that the city is on pace to eat more than $400,000 in processing fees they’re not allowed to pass along to customers this year alone.
The credit card processing itself is an issue. It’s not a matter of them charging us that 3.5% or in some cases it’s 2.6, it varies across cards. Their other fees in addition to just those fees break down to where we’re paying upwards of 10% fees on these credit card payments. Now, I’m not going to make the decision myself to not take them, but it would be the prudent decision to just not accept credit card payments. That has to be considered as an option here.
Council is expected to continue looking at potential solutions. Mayor Stendeback says he’d like to have a plan to address the issue in a couple months.
And with cooler temperatures finally, it’s time to start thinking about autumn activities. The City of Carmi has set Halloween Trick or Treat hours. With Halloween on a Friday this year, hours have been set for October 31, 2025 from 4-8pm. Trick-or-Treaters should only visit those homes with porch lights turned on. Drivers should use extra caution during these hours.
Council adjourned with no executive session at 6:14pm and will next gather September 2nd at 5:30pm in council chambers at 225 East Main Street.