Mount Carmel City Council approves water-meter ordinance, event funding and cemetery equipment; moves to executive session

The Mount Carmel City Council at its recent meeting approved the second reading of Ordinance 21-22 to accept an EPA loan and grant package to replace water meters, authorized several routine expenditures including $2,500 for the Christmas Uptown event, approved purchasing cemetery mowing equipment and adopted the consent agenda to pay city bills. The council later moved into executive session.

Ordinance 21-22: EPA loan and meter replacement The council approved a second reading of Ordinance 21-22, which would allow the city to accept an EPA loan and grant package to install the first 1,000 new water meters and supporting infrastructure. City officials said the work and associated infrastructure are estimated at about $350,000 and that the grant forgiveness covers the project so there will be no direct cost to taxpayers. “It’s going to be a win for the taxpayers at that point,” Mayor said during the discussion.

Christmas Uptown and Riverview Ramble The council approved a one-time allocation of $2,500 to support the Christmas Uptown event after a visitor, Terry Beckerman, asked for the customary support. David James, representing the Riverview Ramble, told the council his event is scheduled on an October Saturday and typically draws about 100 runners; staff said the paperwork and fee were in order.

Cemetery equipment purchase Council members voted to accept a bid and order two Toro commercial mowers to be dedicated to cemetery maintenance. City staff said the change would move cemetery mowing in-house and that the city has a dedicated cemetery fund (the fund balance was discussed but exact current balance was described as available in city records). Council discussion noted the purchase would avoid contracting costs the city expects next year and that part of the purchase would use the cemetery fund to offset the expense.

Consent agenda and executive session Council members approved the consent agenda, including payment of bills with proper signatures. Later the council voted to enter executive session to consider topics listed under the city’s executive-session authority.

What the votes mean City staff characterized the water-meter project as fully funded through the EPA package and said replacing meters and installing the necessary infrastructure will avoid an immediate rate increase tied to those meters. Funding for the short-term event support and the cemetery mowers were approved as one-time or fund-based allocations; the council directed staff to prepare any required resolutions or purchase orders and said additional paperwork would be brought to the next meeting.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 21-22 (second reading) — approved (accept EPA loan/grant to replace first 1,000 meters; estimated project cost cited at about $350,000; grant forgiveness described as covering costs; no taxpayer contribution expected). - Christmas Uptown support — approved; one-time allocation of $2,500. - Cemetery mowers — approved; motion to accept bid and order two Toro mowers; funding to come in part from the cemetery fund and by reducing next year’s contracting. - Consent agenda (pay all bills) — approved. - Motion to enter executive session — approved.

The council asked staff to return with formal resolutions, purchase documents and any grant paperwork at upcoming meetings so members can finalize contracting and implementation steps.