City of Rushville City Council met June 6.
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 Carson Klitz directed City Clerk, Stacey Briney to call the roll. Upon
ROLL CALL, the following answered present: Council Members: Susan Acker, Terry Dodds, Jeff Ervin, Bob Lambert, Barry Rebman, and Paul Trimble. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. Council Members, Richard Davis and Mike Ryan were absent.
Others present included: Stacey Briney, City Clerk; City Attorney, Charlie Burton; Nathan Campbell, Superintendent of Operations; Rick Wright, Chief of Police; David Haney of The Rushville Times; Schuyler Isley, representing Schuyler County Economic Development Commission (SCEDC) (arrived at 7:01 p.m.); Eric Stauffer, Water Operator for Northwest Water Association; Brian Tomlinson; and Scripps Park Board Members, Wendy Stevens & Amanda Higgins.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Carson Klitz.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Brian Tomlinson reported he has been working with City Attorney, Charlie Burton on an idea regarding a piece of property that his dad owned that touches Schuy-Rush Park. Tomlinson stated since his dad passed in 2020, he has purchased the subdivision side of this property and after talking with his siblings, they would like to donate the other piece to the park. Mayor Klitz asked Tomlinson if he was wanting to donate this piece of property to the city for entertainment as long as the city spend Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) for improvements. Tomlinson noted this number is negotiable. Mayor Klitz said that number is not unreasonable because if the park uses this piece of property for camp sites, the city would have to run water and electric to it. Mayor Klitz stated this item will be on the next council agenda for approval.
4. 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 May 16, 2022
b) Approve the Minutes of the Combined Street & Sidewalk & Lighting Committee Meeting held May 12, 2022; Sidewalk & Lighting Committee Meeting held May 24, 2022; & Water Committee Meeting held May 25, 2022
c) Approve “Claims for Council Approval Dated 06/06/22” & Accept Monthly Reports
d) Approve Hiring Myles Ackman to Water in Central Park
e) Approve Hiring Jacob Reller as Returning Lifeguard
f) Approve Tobacco License for Dollar General
g) Consider Reserving Central Park on Sunday, June 12th, & Sunday, July 24th, at 7:00 p.m. for Community Band
h) Consider Reserving Central Park on Saturday, August 20th, for Night Market
i) Approve Annual Service Agreement with Corrpro for Cathodic Protection at a Cost of $940
j) Consider 1st Reading of Ordinance No. 1349, Prevailing Wage Ordinance
Dodds MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. Ervin SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 6 YEAS – Acker, Dodds, Ervin, Lambert, Rebman, & Trimble; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT – Davis & Ryan.
5. ITEMS TO BE REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA – IF APPLICABLE All items were approved on the Consent Agenda.
6. DISCUSS & CONSIDER 2ND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 1348, AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING SALARIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR THE CITY OF RUSHVILLE
Ervin MOVED TO PASS ORDINANCE NO. 1348, AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING SALARIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR THE CITY OF RUSHVILLE TO THE SECOND (2ND) READING. Trimble SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 6 YEAS – Dodds, Ervin, Lambert, Rebman, Trimble, & Acker; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT – Davis & Ryan.
7. DISCUSS & CONSIDER THE POSITION OF THE CITY COUNCIL’S POSITION ON PROPOSED SALES TAX INCREASE REFERENDUM PROPOSED BY SCHUYLER COUNTY BOARD
Acker MOVED TO SUPPORT THE SCHUYLER COUNTY BOARD’S DECISION OF PLACING THE PROPOSED SALES TAX REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT.
Mayor Klitz reported the city did not have a dog in this fight, and Council Member, Jeff Ervin said the city really does not have any say so on this matter. Mayor Klitz stated he is not sure the city should be put in a position to vote on this.
THE MOTION DIED FOR A LACK OF A SECOND.
Lambert MOVED TO NOT OPPOSE THE PROPOSED SALES TAX INCREASE REFERENDUM. THE MOTION DIED FOR A LACK OF A SECOND.
8. DISCUSS & CONSIDER ENTERING INTO A PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT WITH NORTHWEST WATER ASSOCIATION
Water Committee Chairman, Ervin reported the committee had met with members of the Northwest Water Association regarding the city taking over their twenty-four (24) active and three (3) inactive members. Ervin noted they would like to dissolve the association and just become city customers. Ervin stated he is not opposed to this and feels the city would be doing Northwest Water Association a favor. Ervin said the city is not going to make money on these customers because we already sell the water to them.
Ervin reported about twenty-one (21) customers would need pits because they are in the houses. Ervin stated he had Superintendent of Operations, Nathan Campbell get prices on the materials that we would need to do this job, and that cost was Fifteen Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty Dollars ($15,920). Ervin noted the city could save approximately Five Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($5,600) on the materials because we have some meters that have been taken out of services that could be used. Ervin said the city would have to provide the labor and do them when we got a free day. A discussion followed regarding the financials.
Ervin reported the water main was put in around 1995 and is in very good shape. Ervin stated if the council is for going into negotiations with Northwest Water, he can come back for final approval. Attorney Burton said the city has an option of purchasing or receiving this because the association is a not for-profit. Attorney Burton noted part of the problem for the association is some of the meters are in the houses and that is not acceptable with EPA. Attorney Burton said the association still has to do water samples and that is costly for them as well. Ervin questioned if it was legal for the association to give the city the funds they had available, and Attorney Burton noted the association would have to have a meeting with their members for approval and then a bill of sales would have to be drawn up for each property. Attorney Burton said he is not sure if there are any easements on this line or not.
Mayor Klitz asked the council if they were willing to take this on and allow Ervin to continue meeting with the association, and Council Member, Susan Acker stated that she did not see any negatives about this. Consensus was to continue to pursue taking over the Northwest Water Association customers.
9. DISCUSS & CONSIDER RESCINDING PREVIOUS MOTION RE: DOING AWAY WITH THE POST OFFICE BOX
Ervin reported City Treasurer, Becky Menely contacted him asking him why the city decided to do away with the post office box. Ervin said he was under the impression that there was not much mail that went through there.
10. CONSIDER RENEWING THE POST OFFICE BOX
Ervin MOVED TO APPROVE RESCINDING THE PREVIOUS MOTION REGARDING DOING AWAY WITH THE POST OFFICE BOX AND RENEW IT FOR THE YEAR. Rebman SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 6 YEAS – Ervin, Lambert, Rebman, Trimble, Acker, & Dodds; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT – Davis & Ryan.
11. DISCUSS & CONSIDER ACCEPTING BIDS FOR THE SIDEWALK PROJECTS ON SOUTHEAST & SOUTHWEST SIDES OF THE SQUARE AND IN FRONT OF THE PRINCESS THEATER (RUSHVILLE STATE BANK TO THE PRINCESS THEATER, WEST SIDE OF SUBWAY SOUTH TO THE ALLEY, AND EAST SIDE OF STATION 1883)
Sidewalk & Lighting Committee Chairman, Paul Trimble reported Greg Ryckaert of IMEG met with the committee onsite with blueprints for each sidewalk. Trimble stated the committee and Campbell liked what they had except the one by Station 1883 did not have a couple of the rails. Trimble noted they discussed an ADA ramp on the side of Subway going into the side offices.
Trimble said the East LaFayette sidewalk will go from Rushville State Bank corner east to the alley by the theater and the curb will be replaced as well. Trimble noted the curb along the west side of Subway will not be replaced since it is belongs to the state. Trimble said the committee decided to have each project bid separately hoping to expedite things. Ervin asked if these projects were going to be paid with excess TIF funds, and Committee Member, Terry Dodds said that was correct. Dodds reported the committee also recommended having an engineer onsite as well.
Dodds MOVED TO APPROVE ADVERTISING FOR BIDS FOR THE THREE (3) SEPARATE SIDEWALK PROJECTS AND INCLUDE HAVING AN ENGINEER ONSITE. Trimble SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 6 YEAS – Lambert, Rebman, Trimble, Acker, Dodds, & Ervin; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT – Davis & Ryan.
12. COUNCIL MEMBER & OFFICIALS’ REPORTS
Council Member, Paul Trimble reported he has received a few complaints about campers being set up to live in. Trimble noted he would like to look into this to see if it is legal.
Council Member, Susan Acker thought maybe Attorney Burton could write another letter to IDOT about the traffic study since we have not heard anything back from them as of today.
Public Buildings Committee Member, Terry Dodds asked Committee Chairman, Trimble if he has scheduled a meeting regarding a janitor for City Hall yet, and Trimble said he had forgotten about that but he will get it done.
Parks & Recreation Committee, Barry Rebman reported there was an incident in Central Park over the weekend where an extension cord had burned up. Rebman stated that according to the National Electric Code (NEC), you cannot splice an extension cord. Rebman said he thinks he feels things like this maybe should be inspected before anyone plugs in for safety reasons.
13. ADJOURN
Dodds MOVED TO ADJOURN. Trimble SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 6 YEAS – Rebman, Trimble, Acker, Dodds, Ervin, & Lambert; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT – Davis & Ryan.
THE MEETING STOOD ADJOURNED ACCORDINGLY AT 7:31 P.M.
https://www.rushvilleillinois.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/22-06-06.Minutes.pdf
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