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Township Grants $3,000 to WLWC

The first Carmi Township meeting of 2025 went smoothly, with only Highway Commissioner Chris McEwing and Brian Atteberry absent.

We Love White County submitted a grant application to the Township asking for $3,000 towards the funds they use to assist with the Food-Fill-Ups in 2025. The $3,000 would cover one Food-Fill-Up and groceries for 200 families.  One of the key discussions revolved around the We Love White County grant. Supervisor Pam Deig pointed out that the board had only utilized $2,000 of the $5,000 budgeted for the White County Senior Citizens Center earlier in the fiscal year.

Township Attorney Greg Stewart provided valuable insights into the process of accepting this and future grants.

“There is a provision in there about how this will benefit the residents of Carmi Township, which is what you are over. Understanding this is a White County initiative, the point that I’m raising is how much is this going to benefit the Township for the money you’re paying? For example, and I’m not saying this is the way it would work at all, what if those meals went to Norris City? I think there’s an issue there that you might be held accountable for because someone would say well, how did that benefit the residents of Carmi Township, my assumption is this is probably spread over the whole county, so there is some benefit to Carmi Township as well as other surrounding areas. So I just ask you to keep in mind when you look at these. It’s not just We Love White County or the White County Senior Citizens, which we’ve talked about this issue before; you’ve got to make a determination how much does this benefit the people that you actually talk for, which is the residents of Carmi Township. If you feel it’s worthwhile for that and this money is actually going to benefit them and not need others outside your jurisdiction, then by all means, do it. I just point that out as something you need to think about. I think We Love White County is a great organization, but I just, you know, my job is to put in your head what your role is and what you’re supposed to look at, and then you judge it from there. That’s all.”

Trustee Adam Winkleman made the motion to approve the grant, with Stewart further emphasizing the importance of transparency,

Winkleman: “Next year, when you talk to them, say, hey, what percentage of your demographic is being fed here?”

Deig: “We can do it now. I can send a letter with it and have something, you know, explain to them.”

Stewart: “This way, if anyone ever questioned you as to why you’re doing what you’re doing, you can say, we looked into this, and here’s how it benefits the residents of White County.”

After thorough discussions and considerations, the board unanimously approved the grant application for $3,000.

Deig updated the board on the OSHA violations the Township received in October 2024. The deadline to fix the four remaining items was January 3rd, but the deadline was not met. The items included no guards on the zero-turn, a welding machine in the shop that was not removed per OSHA request, and incomplete training for CPR and hazardous materials.

Deig stated that Highway Commissioner Chris McEwing sent evidence that the machine had been moved and the guard had been put on the zero turn. OSHA accepted those findings, and the Township will not face any fines. However, OSHA requested that the board need a Hazard Communications program, and the board agreed to add that to their February agenda.

The total assistance for General and Emergency spending was $3,073 for December, with 18 sign-ins from Carmi.

The next Carmi Township meeting will be on February 11th at 6 PM.

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