City of Rushville City Council met March 16.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
1. ROLL CALL & CALL TO ORDER
The Rushville City Council met in the meeting room of the City Hall building. Upon convening, Mayor Jeff Ervin directed Mike Grate to call the roll. Upon ROLL CALL, the following answered present: Council Members: Susan Acker, Mike Carey, Terry Dodds, Mike Farniok, Bob Fishel, Bryan Matteson, Mike Ryan, & Paul Trimble. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M.
Others present included: Mike Grate, City Clerk’s Office; Drew Ralston, Superintendent of Operations, Rick Wright, Chief of Police; and Moe Billingsley of The Rushville Times.
2. OPENING PRAYER
The Opening Prayer was led by Mayor Jeff Ervin.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Ervin.
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no Public Comments at this time.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
All items on the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine in nature and will be enacted in one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Council Member so requests, in which event, the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered as the first item after approval of the Consent Agenda.
a) Approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held March 2, 2026
b) Approve “Claims for Council Approval Dated 03/16/26” & Accept Monthly Reports
c) Approve Reserving Central Park on Friday, April 3rd, from 3:00p.m.- 7:00p.m. for Good Friday Services
d) Approve Installing Generator at City Hall
Fishel MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. Farniok SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Acker, Carey, Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, & Trimble; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.
6. ITEMS TO BE REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA – IF APPLICABLE All items were approved on the Consent Agenda.
7. DISCUSS & CONSIDER 2ND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 1409, ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING SALARIES, WAGES, & BENEFITS FOR CITY DEPARTMENT SUPERINTENDENTS & EMPLOYEES
Trimble MOVED TO PASS ORDINANCE NO. 1409, ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING SALARIES, WAGES, & BENEFITS FOR CITY DEPARTMENT SUPERINTENDENTS & EMPLOYEES TO THE THIRD (3RD) READING. Dodds SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Carey, Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, & Acker; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.
8. DISCUSS & CONSIDER 2nd READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 1410, ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING SALARIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR THE CITY OF RUSHVILLE
Trimble MOVED TO PASS ORDINANCE NO. 1410, ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING SALARIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR THE CITY OF RUSHVILLE TO THE THIRD (3RD) READING. Farniok SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, & Carey; 1 NAY – Matteson; 0 ABSENT.
9. DISCUSS & CONSIDER WATER FLOW IN CITY PARKING LOT BEHIND KERR HOMECENTER
Mayor Ervin reported the city has been looking at getting the parking lot milled off because it is now raised in the middle and the water flows into Kerr Homecenter. Mayor Ervin stated that he and Superintendent of Operations, Drew Ralston met with Pete Hamm and Justin Maxwell of GM Sipes Construction and discussed the parking lot water flow issues. Mayor Ervin said Hamm advised the city could mill out the raised area and put in a drain, but he suggested pouring concrete from Kerr’s thresholds, slope it away from the building, add a gutter pan, and then run it towards the alley. Mayor Ervin noted Hamm thought this would eliminate the need of the city purchasing a drain that we would have to maintain and buy piping to run over three hundred feet (300’) to tie into McAllister Street’s storm sewer. Mayor Ervin stated that the cost of the drain and running the piping would be around Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000), and GM Sipes quoted the city Nineteen Thousand Nine Hundred Sixty-Two Dollars and Sixty Cents ($19.962.60). Mayor Ervin reminded the council that we created this issue due to years of oil and chipping this parking lot.
Fishel MOVED TO APPROVE THE BID FROM GM SIPES IN THE AMOUNT OF NINETEEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED SIXTY-TWO DOLLARS AND SIXTY CENTS ($19,962.60) TO INSTALL DRAINAGE RUN-OFF IN THE PARKING LOT BEHIND KERR HOMECENTER. Farniok SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Acker, Carey, & Dodds; 0 – NAYS; 1 PRESENT – Trimble; 0 ABSENT.
10. DISCUSS & CONSIDER ENTERING INTO AGREEMENT WITH IMEG TO ENGINEER SOUTH LIBERTY STREET
Mayor Ervin reported the city has a storm sewer and water lines on South Liberty Street that need replaced as well as the street needing to be resurfaced. Mayor Ervin stated a committee meeting with Megan Crook of IMEG was held regarding our current issues on South Liberty Street. Mayor Ervin said he spoke with Crook again today and they cannot combine the storm sewer, water line and street on the same grant, so we have to choose one. Ralston stated the clay tile is the worst and he would like to start with that. Mayor Ervin reiterated that this is nothing more than entering into an agreement with IMEG to engineer the project and hopefully submit it for a grant.
Trimble MOVED TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH IMEG TO ENGINEER SOUTH LIBERTY STREET. Matteson SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Carey, Dodds, Farniok & Fishel; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.
11. COUNCIL MEMBERS & OFFICALS’ REPORTS
Water & Sewer Committee Chair, Bryan Matteson reported that a committee meeting was held earlier this evening with Jaime Headen with Benton Engineering to discuss future projects and grants. Matteson asked for consensus for Benton Engineering to engineer three (3) different projects so that we can be ready for grants if they come available in the future. Matteson stated Headen presented one storm sewer project on North Liberty from McAllister to East Washington then down East Washington to the alley before St. Louis Street. Matteson added that Headen presented two plans for water line replacements, one on West Jefferson from North Congress to North Franklin and the other on East Lafayette, the alley east of the Princess Theater to Douglas Street. Consensus of the council was to enter into an agreement with Benton Engineering to engineer the future projects. Mike Grate was directed to place this item on the next council agenda for formal approval.
Cemetery Committee Chair, Bryan Matteson reported they will be doing interviews at City Hall this Thursday, March 19th, at 5:30 p.m. for summer mowing help at the cemetery. A discussion followed regarding getting employees that can string trim.
Police Committee Member, Bob Fishel reported that the City Police Department lost K-9 Cody and would like to get consensus from the council so he can price a plaque to be placed on the outside of the Police Department. Fishel stated there are different types of materials plaques can be made of, so he was going to look into the different options and bring it to the council for discussion. Consensus of the council was to have Fishel move forward with finding a plaque for K-9 Cody.
Police Chief, Rick Wright, reported that he and Officer Nathan Rauch are looking for a replacement K-9 unit. Chief Wright stated that Officer Rauch will be traveling to Indiana to Van Lick Kennel to look into another K-9 since this is the kennel that Cody came from. Chief Wright said they are looking at other kennels, but most other kennels import their dogs, so it’s sight unseen, and Van Lick has them on sight. Chief Wright explained our neighboring counties either do not have or are getting ready to retire their K-9 units and he does not think we should be without a K-9 unit in this area.
12. ADJOURN
Fishel MOVED TO ADJOURN. Ryan SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Carey, Dodds, Farniok & Fishel; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT. THE MEETING STOOD ADJOURNED ACCORDINGLY AT 7:17 P.M.
https://rushvilleillinois.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/26-03-16-1.pdf
