CARTHAGE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 22nd, 2025   Minutes

The Special Meeting of the Carthage City Council was held Monday, September 22 nd ,
2025, at City Hall, 538 Wabash Avenue. Mayor Smith called the meeting to order at
7:00 P.M. Answering to roll call were Aldermen Smith, Roberts, Long, Biondolino and
Walker. City Treasurer Pam Edris and Alderman Steinkamp were absent.
The Council discussed the changes that had previously been suggested by the Legislative
Committee.
These changes included the wording for the position of Mayor, City Attorney, City Clerk,
Treasurer and City Aldermen. The Council would like to change the wording so that the
code book does not have to be changed each time the salary amounts for those positions
change. Also, the bond amount for the position of Mayor, City Clerk and Treasurer need
to be updated.
The Council would also like to remove the section that requires the Chief of Police and
Street Superintendent to execute a bond with the City. The Chief of Police and Street
Superintendent do not have access to City funds so a bond is not required. They would
also like to remove the section that requires the Street Superintendent to swear an oath of
office with the City.
The Council would also like to change the wording of the City Seal in the Code book. It
does not describe the current City seal. The Council would also like to remove the
section of the code book that requires the Clerk to make twelve copies of any ordinance
that is passed. The Clerk provides copies of any ordinance currently but having twelve
copies available is excessive and wasteful.
The Council would like to add in a section that provides for and explains the position of
Public Works Director. The City is currently looking into filling this position and would
like it in the code book to properly define the position.
The Council would like to change the wording of the members of the Board of Health.
The Code currently requires a physician to be on the Board. However, the change would
state that a professional personnel would be included with the board as required. The
code book also states that the Board would be permitted to enter any premises or building
within the City but the Council would like to add that the Board of Health would be
permitted to enter any premises of building in the City with judicial mandate. The
Council would also like to change that if a professional personnel is required then the
City would provide compensation to that individual for each date of service.

Alderman Smith reported that he will get a sample code to replace the current Emergency
Services and Disaster Agency section of the code book. He had previously looked at the
Macomb Code book and thought that it would be a good section to work off of.
The Council would like to change the wording of the Planning Commission section. The
current code states that 9 citizens of the City will be appointed to the board. The Council
would like to structure it so that the members of the board consist of 1 member from each
of the following: Chamber of Commerce, each school, the Library District, Park District,
Kibbe Museum, Hospital and then the final two would be Head of Public Works, and
Head of Public Safety.
The Council would also like to make it so that each member of the Planning Commission
would be compensated for each date of service, this would exclude the two members of
the City Council as they are not allowed to be paid in addition to their Committee and
Council pay. The Council would also like to have wording that provides for the Planning
Commission to establish a comprehensive plan.
The Council would like to remove the section of the code book that covers expenditures
for the Planning Commission. This was initially implemented when the planning
commission was originally established to provide for a secretary or staff members if they
are needed. This is no longer required and can be removed.
Alderman Smith reported that Chapter 4: Fair Housing is in the code books and appears
to be fine. However, the City does not currently have a fair housing board and it needs to
be established. The Council would suggest that the 7 members of the Planning
Commission that are not City Aldermen would fill the positions of the Fair Housing
Board.
The Council would like to remove the Auditorium section of the code book as the City no
longer maintains the Auditorium.
The Council would like to change the fee for solicitors. It currently states that all
solicitors will pay $100 per person for a week of soliciting on Monday thru Friday from
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They would like to change it to $200 per person for a term of 5
days from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. And an additional bond will be required in the amount
of $1,000 which shall be returned to the solicitor if they have not been found to have
solicited after hours or for more days than they paid for and if they have not
misrepresented themselves as being affiliated with the City.

Alderman Smith reported that Chapter 4: Public Carriers may be removed due to the fact
that the City does not currently have any public carriers. Also a section needs to be
added for soliciting of solar panels separately from the standard solicitors and it could
replace the section that is being removed for Public Carriers. Alderman Smith is looking
at the Macomb Code book for a possible example to base the code off of.
The Council would like to add a section of the code book to regulate the licensing for the
sale of Cannabis in the City of Carthage. The City would also like to remove Chapter 9:
Cannabis Business Establishment Prohibited. This section prohibits the sale of Cannabis
in the City of Carthage and would need to be removed if the City wishes to allow the sale
of Cannabis.
The Council would also like to change the wording of the Mobile food vendors that
currently states that Mobile food vendors may not vend alcohol. They would like it to
state that Mobile food vendors may not vend alcohol without a special liquor license.
Motion to adjourn by Alderman Walker, seconded by Smith at 8:13 PM
Respectfully submitted,

Scott Roberts
City Clerk