Tough decisions are being made across the country. City leaders are facing them as well. While some individuals and families are facing significant increases in insurance, healthcare premiums, and higher grocery prices, the city of Carmi is trying to find a way to curb losses in credit card processing fees Mayor Bill Stendeback says will cost the city nearly $600,000 this year. The council met Tuesday evening with the aim of tackling the issue that’s been on the new mayor’s mind since he took office and council made a move after a presentation from First Bank and an executive session. By agreeing to ordinance 1668, council lit a fuse that dictates the city of Carmi will no longer accept credit or debit cards for utility payments beginning January 1st giving them just under 2 months to find a solution.
Read more at Carmi Council Continues to Wrangle with Credit Card Processing Fees Tuesday – WRUL-FM
The analysis from First Bank’s Treasury Management Specialist McKenzie Ziliak broke down customer payment types from July showing 11% were ACH, 24% were checks or cash, and a whopping 65% of payments wer made via plastic which resulted in corresponding fees of $36,486. Ziliak also broke down the individual fees that make up that 10.71% which include settlement, risk assessment, interchange, authorization and transaction, and also miscellaneous fees.
After the presentation from Ziliak, Mayor Stendeback announced he was moving consideration on the ordinance to later in the meeting and council worked through the other six agenda items. Among them, approved was a T&R Electric quote amounting to $21,425 to restock the city’s transformers. Leaders also signed off on closures of streets for the Christmas parade scheduled for November 29th. Council agreed to a TIF agreement with Dan Kearns for his property at 201 North Walnut Street. The building houses Waiting for Baby Bird Ministries and Kearns will use the funds to address some tuck pointing, windows, and other needs. The terms of the agreement will allow reimbursement of 50% up to $25,000.
Council also signed off on an amendment for Campbell Farms TIF Agreement that dates back to October of 2023. Mayor Stendeback says Campbell’s costs ended up being less than anticipated and therefore they were amending the agreement to the lower amount. Jake Campbell says rather than taking that money as a reimbursement on the project, he’s going to donate that taxpayer money to the White County Economic Development Committee, a self-described think tank founded in 2023.
Read more at Introducing the White County Economic Development Committee – WRUL-FM
Read more at White County Economic Development Committee Welcomes Local Leaders to Learn About Big Plans – WRUL-FM
Leaders also discussed Engine 12 at the power plant Tuesday night with no action. Brad Attebury estimates it would cost $700,000 to rebuild the motor in the faulty engine. A new one would cost $1.8 million. Getting it back in service would result in about $80,000 per year in credits through IMEA. Among the needs on the engine are pistons, rings, sleeves and there’s still no guarantee it functions at that point.
Finally, before recessing into a second executive session at about 6:20pm, a bid from Guisewhite Excavating was opened for demolition of property at 200 West Kerney. The city already has paid $66,200 to acquire the property amid a potential sewer damage claim. That was in June of this year. Read more at City Council Holds Busy Open Session, Even Longer Executive Session; Avoids Litigation with Purchase – WRUL-FM. Now they’ll pay $13,960 to tear it down.
Councilman Jack Bradshaw was absent.