There’s a quandary to kick off the new administration of the City of Carmi. While swearing in newly elected Mayor Bill Stendeback, two new aldermen in Greg Knight and Jack Bradshaw, along with returning council members Doug Hays and Tracy Nelson was the highlight of a packed May 6th council gathering, leaders grappled with the police station roof for better than forty minutes of the hour and twenty-minute open session.
The options laid out Tuesday evening were bids from Integrity Roofing, Trico Roofing, and Schutts Roofing for replacement of the current flat roof. Meanwhile, Jeremy Courson, co-owner at Carmi Lumber priced material for city workers to construct a pitched roof. Leaders agreed a pitched roof is a better option long term; however, even in an attempt to save money, the estimate is going to go over the $20,000 mark which rules dictate the project go to bid. Courson’s estimate on materials was at $18,606, but a crane, lift, and/or other necessary tool rental takes the project over $20,000. The flat roof bids were $28,854 from Integrity with a 15 year warranty; $32,000 from Trico with a 20 year warranty, and $87,450 from Schutt’s. Discussion also surrounded worker safety with some council members saying saving $10,000 wasn’t worth the life or health of one of our own capable city employees due to the fact it’s not work they routinely complete. After 41 minutes, council agreed to rebid the project requesting new flat roof bids, pitched roof bids with materials only, and pitched roof bids with labor for consideration.
The council also scurried through an alphabet of procedural resolutions primarily updating names on accounts and authorized signers. Additionally, pay requests and invoices were approved for Brown and Roberts for the Unsewered Communities Planning Grant, Design Engineering for the Waste Water Treatment Plant Digesters Rehab project, and a Schumaker Street Asphalt Project totaling $102,726.15. The group also entered into an agreement with the firm for the Carmi Municipal Airport project.
Stendeback’s first words as Mayor…
First off, I’d like to thank everyone. I was asked probably a hundred times why at age 69 I would do this having been retired for 4 years from a business that locked me down so much. But, I couldn’t not. There was just something there that said ‘you need to do this’ because I felt like the city was in trouble. I appreciate the support I received from the day I picked up my petition through tonight. And I will faithfully do my best to do this job for the City of Carmi and the people that live here.
Mayor Stendeback also laid out his choices for committee chairs. Tracy Nelson and Lacey Bradshaw will head up the Airports & Buildings Committee. Lacey and Doug Hays will head up Finance/Budget. Jeremy Courson and Tracy Nelson will be on the Fire Department Committee. Greg Knight was tapped to serve as the Library Committee Chair. Light and Water Administration will be led by Greg Knight with co-chair Lacey Bradshaw. Police and Animal Control will be Doug Hays and Mark Blake. Jack Bradshaw and Mike Knight will chair the swimming pool, cemetery, and parks. Streets and Alleys along with city garages will be headed up by Jeremy Courson and Tracy Nelson. Water and Sewer department chairs will be Mark Blake with Jack Bradshaw. Finallly, the Welding Department Committee chair will be Mark Blake.
At around 6:50pm, council recessed into closed session with no action to follow. They would spend the next hour and 15 minutes discussing property, personnel, and potential litigation issues.
A press release on Wednesday morning indicates as of now, the City of Carmi has not received enough applications from certified lifeguards to open the Carmi Municipal Swimming Pool. There is an upcoming class May 16-18 at the Deaconess Aquatic Center. Anyone 16 years of age or older interested in applying for a lifeguarding position is encouraged by the City to take the class and apply for a lifeguarding position. Lifeguard applicants for the City of Carmi must be a minimum of 16 years of age. Taking the class doesn’t necessarily guarantee employment with the City of Carmi. Learn more at http://www.cityofcarmi.org/application.
Also Wednesday morning, Stendeback declared it Poppy Week in Carmi.
He is pictured with Stacey Gwaltney.
WHEREAS, the poppy became a symbol of the sacrifice of lives in war, and represented the hope that none had died in vain; and
WHEREAS, the American Legion Auxiliary Poppy has continued to bloom for the casualties of four wars, reminding America each year that the men and women who have served and died for their country deserve to be remembered; and
WHEREAS, since it began in 1921, Poppy Day has become a familiar tradition in almost every American community, with the distribution of the bright red memorial flower to the public being one of the oldest and most widely-recognized programs of the American Legion Auxiliary.
NOW THEREFORE, I, MAYOR WILLIAM B. STENDEBACK, do hereby proclaim May 4-10, 2025, as Carmi Poppy Week and urge participation in this commemoration by all citizens who, by such action, will demonstrate their faith in those men and women who gave their lives in defense of freedom.
