Mount Carmel water plant nominated for award; city updates include parking, trash pickup and a sergeant's retirement

Mount Carmel officials told the board the city’s water treatment plant has been nominated for a regional/state water-plant award and inspectors will conduct a walk-through in October. Commissioner Meeks said nominations will be inspected starting Oct. 3 and a walkthrough is scheduled for Oct. 21; arrangements and public access were discussed but not fully clarified at the meeting.

Commissioner Meador reported completion of the new Southgate parking lot and urged outreach so residents use it; city staff said parking-lot signs will be installed indicating courtesy parking and that parked vehicles must be licensed and operational. Mister Gidcombe and others noted signs will go up to encourage Southgate use.

Commissioner Zimmerman announced Fire Safety Week (Oct. 5–11), school visits and an emphasis on battery safety, and described an upcoming two-truck large-trash pickup; residents were asked to place large items curbside by Monday at 6 a.m., with mattresses and box springs required to be fully wrapped in plastic and building materials excluded.

Chief McWilliams announced that Sergeant Jared Price will retire effective Oct. 8; the chief reviewed Price’s years of service since 2001 and said staff plan a retirement event. City crews reported maintenance work including repairs at the wastewater treatment plant (motor/aerator repairs and possible replacement) and ongoing water/sewer line maintenance.

Financial highlights in the meeting included a two-week revenue report of $23,003.24 and expense items noted at $107,009.15; the transcript contains one total revenue figure that was partially garbled and therefore is reported as not specified here.

What’s next: City staff will host the water-plant walkthrough on Oct. 21 (inspection team visits also referenced Oct. 3) and will install posted parking signage and execute the large-trash pickup in the coming week.