“An expensive game of whack a mole”…that’s what Councilman Greg Knight called trying to figure out what’s wrong with and repair Engine #12 at the Carmi Light Plant. After agreeing to spend nearly $13,000 back in February in an effort to get the engine back in service, Carmi City Council members (Knight and alderman Jack Bradshaw were not part of that council as they were elected on April 1st as was Mayor Stendeback) learned of a new quote of $38,402.10 to basically diagnose what was wrong with it.
Read more at Carmi Council Tables Making Light and Water Hire; Will Seek Bids on Sewer Plant Rehab – WRUL-FM
The engine hasn’t been in service in the last two years. IMEA gives credits which translate into money for municipalities ability to produce power if needed. If the city could get that engine functioning and to pass emissions tests, it would translate into about $6,800 per month. In February, City Supervisor Brad Attebury said spending $13,000 to get those credits was worth it. That money spent only resulting in finding out that oil was spilling out of the exhaust which suggests a much bigger problem according to officials. So spending nearly $40,000 without a guaranteed fix and only for that to probably result in another large financial quote for what it would cost to repair what technicians find is a gamble some council members didn’t feel was a good bet. Councilman Tracy Nelson wasn’t ready to simply give up on it however and asked to table the matter so it could be delved into deeper.
Council also passed a pair of ordinances Tuesday night. The first, common sense legislation regarding deposits and not allowing cash back on those deposits. Ordinance 1667 deals with the use of the city dump. Mayor Stendeback explains.
Most Saturdays except holidays and special times we are open at the city dump for people to bring things and dump them off. What we have noticed over the last several months is we have commercial people coming in there with dump trucks and dump trailers who are charging individuals for picking up their stuff and then bringing it here and dumping it here for free. We are also having people that do not live in White County, because it’s open to White County, not just Carmi residents because the county pays half of that dumpster fee…we have gotten to the point where we’re being billed once sometimes twice a month to the tune of $4,000 – $6,000 because these dumpsters are being filled.
Folks taking stuff to the dump should be prepared to show ID and the ordinance also prohibits dump trucks, dump trailers, or paid contractors from dumping. The mayor says there have been people from Harrisburg, Mt. Vernon, Indiana, and “all over the palace” using the dump. City Supervisor Brad Attebury says the problem has gotten worse since CoViD-19.
Also Tuesday night, leaders passed resolutions moving the November and December disconnection dates to the last Monday of each month rather than the Wednesday. Disconnection for November will be on the 24th, prior to Thanksgiving. December’s disconnection date will be on the 29th, the Monday after Christmas.
Another resolution closing portions of Cherry Street and Main Cross was approved in advance of the Trunk or Treat between 4pm – 6pm on Halloween.
The City approved 3 separate payments to engineering firm Brown and Roberts amounting to $434,511.40. Two of those were in relation to water tanks and the other for the Schumaker Street project. The city will also write a check for $147,569.59 to Samron Midwest Contracting for roadway improvements on the Schumaker Street project. Two of those payments will be made through an IEPA Loan and the other two out of the Rebuild Grant.
Finally, Brad Spence’s appointment to the Police Commission was approved. He’s taking the place of Bob Duckworth and his term will run from September 17th of 2025 to the end of 2027.
Council recessed into executive session to discuss property at 6:13pm, 43 minutes after the meeting began, with no action following.