City of Rushville City Council met June 19.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
PUBLIC HEARING
REGARDING THE PROPOSED APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR THE 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR
The following were in attendance: Mayor Jeff Ervin; Council Members – Susan Acker, Richard Davis, Terry Dodds, Bob Fishel, and Bryan Matteson; City Clerk, Stacey Briney; City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler; Chief of Police, Rick Wright; and David Haney of The Rushville Times.
The public hearing was called to review the proposed appropriation ordinance for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Notice was posted to meet state requirements.
Acker MOVED TO ADJOURN. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 5 YEAS – Acker, Davis, Dodds, Fishel, & Matteson; 0 NAYS; 3 ABSENT – Rebman, Ryan, & Trimble. THE PUBLIC HEARING STOOD ADJOURNED AT 6:52 P.M.
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 City Clerk, Stacey Briney to call the roll. Upon ROLL CALL, the following answered present: Council Members: Susan Acker, Richard Davis, Terry Dodds, Bob Fishel, Bryan Matteson, Mike Ryan (arrived at 7:01 p.m.), and Paul Trimble. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M.
Others present included: Stacey Briney, City Clerk; Erin Wilson-Laegeler, City Attorney, Eric Thurman, Superintendent of Operations (arrived at 7:02 p.m.); Rick Wright, Chief of Police; David Haney of The Rushville Times; Brian Frericks of QFB Energy; Bob Lambert and Deanna Zeisler.
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. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING ELECTRICAL AGGREGATION RATES & RENEWING ENERGY CONTRACT WITH QFB ENERGY
Brian Frericks of QFB Energy introduced himself and presented an Energy Review & Proposal to the council. Said document is attached and a part of these minutes. Frericks reported the city’s current contract will expire in August and we have been on a very good rate during that contract period. Frericks explained the electric supply components.
Frericks stated a big thing happened last year with Ameren’s rate ending in May being $.144, which made the city save Ten Cents per kilowatt hour ($.10/kwh) since the city is currently paying $.04967/kwh. Frericks said he would recommend the city only agree to a twelve (12) month contract where the rate will be fixed. Frericks noted that when you lock-in with a supplier, they put a “fluff” in the capacity rate and it would be more per kwh. Frericks reported the new contract would be $.07153 and Ameren is charging $.09/kwh. Frericks stated we are in a volatile situation right now and he feels the price will go down so that is why he is only recommending a twelve (12) month contract.
Ryan MOVED TO RENEW THE ENERGY CONTRACT WITH QFB ENERGY FOR TWELVE (12) MONTHS. Matteson SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Acker, Davis, Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, & Trimble; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Rebman.
Brian Frericks left the meeting at 7:08 p.m.
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Bob Lambert reported that at the last council meeting, the council voted to advertise for bids for a new building at the cemetery. Lambert stated, when he was on the council and chairman of the cemetery, the reason for the building was to house the grave digger, but the specs for the building advertised does not allow for that. Lambert noted that the grave digger is not under warranty so any work that has to be done on it has to be done by Cemetery Sexton, George Vincent, which means he would be away from the cemetery when that happens. Cemetery Committee Chairman, Bryan Matteson said he had talked with Vincent many times and many hours about this and they both felt with the current building and the new building, they would serve his needs for along time. Matteson noted they talked about raising the header in the current building or building on an addition at a later date. A short discussion followed. Mayor Ervin thanked Lambert for sharing his concerns.
6. 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 June 5, 2023
b) Approve the Minutes of the Cemetery Committee Meeting held June 1, 2023
c) Approve “Claims for Council Approval Dated 06/19/23” & Accept Monthly Reports
d) Consider Reserving Central Park on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at 6:00 P.M. for The HUB’s Children’s Choir
e) Approve Hiring Lane Maliongas as Part-Time Cemetery
f) Approve Engagement Letter with Gray, Hunter, Stenn for the Fiscal Year Audit Ending April 30, 2023
g) Consider 2nd Reading of Ordinance No. 1362, Prevailing Wage Ordinance
Dodds MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Davis, Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, & Acker; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Rebman.
7. ITEMS TO BE REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA – IF APPLICABLE
All items were approved on the Consent Agenda.
8. DISCUSS & CONSIDER SEWER HOOK-UP AT RESIDENCE ON PENNY LANE/SOUTH MONROE STREET
City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler reported herself and Superintendent of Operations, Eric Thurman looked into this situation and according to the Illinois Plumbing Code, no one can have two (2) hook-ups on one (1) lot. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler stated the State of Illinois has to be the ones to give a variance on this so the city has no say in this. Sewer Committee Member, Mike Ryan asked Thurman if he was going to look to see where the sewer goes, and Thurman said they are going to dig and try to find how far it actually goes. Deanna Zeisler questioned what EPA said, and Mayor Ervin stated it was not the EPA but the laws in the Illinois Plumbing Code so the city does not have any authority on this so we cannot approve the hook-up. Mayor Ervin noted the sewer to the trailer Zeisler is putting in has to be a separate line and the city crew can find out which sewer is closer for her. No action was taken.
9. PASS & ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 1359, ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE
Ryan MOVED TO PASS & ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 1359, ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS – 7 YEAS – Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, & Davis; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Rebman.
10. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING RED GRANT FOR SUSAN’S ULTIMATE SALON
Economic Development Committee Chair, Susan Acker reported the committee met to discuss the application from Susan’s Ultimate Salon.
Acker MOVED TO APPROVE A RED GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000) TO SUSAN’S ULTIMATE SALON. Dodds SECONDED, THE MOTION CARRIED WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Davis, & Dodds; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Rebman.
11. COUNCIL MEMBER & OFFICIAL’S REPORTS
Sidewalk & Lighting Committee Chairman, Paul Trimble reported he would like to get a consensus from the council to get an engineering estimate for the sidewalk from the corner of West Washington & North Congress (JCPenney building) down to the corner of West Washington & North Monroe. Consensus of the council was to allow Trimble to get an engineering estimate.
Deanna Zeisler left the meeting at 7:26 p.m.
Council Member, Bryan Matteson reported he would like to get a consensus to allow ATV’s and UTV’s to be out until midnight the week of the fair. Chief of Police, Rick Wright stated he thinks there are things that go on after midnight so maybe the curfew could be moved to 1:00 a.m. during the fair. Mayor Ervin said this curfew is only good on the days of the fair. Trimble stressed that this would be a trial run and if it is abused, then it will not happen again. Consensus of the council was to extend the curfew for ATV’s and UTV’s to 1:00 a.m. on the days of the fair.
Parks & Recreation Committee Chairman, Terry Dodds reported he is glad the swimming pool is open. Dodds said he talked to some of the employees and they seemed happy. Dodds noted there were a lot of people around the park too.
Street Committee Chairman, Mike Ryan reported he had some complaints of parking in front of NAPA on the corner. Ryan said he talked with Mike Phillips about having the city paint some lines out front.
Council Member, Bob Fishel reported he had a couple people ask him about the big pothole on Wilson Street. Mayor Ervin said Hood Construction is waiting for it to settle and they will blacktop it. Mayor Ervin noted the city crew has been trying to water it to help keep the dust down.
City Clerk, Stacey Briney reported Kent Paisley was in and wanted to thank the council for the use of the square for the car show. Briney noted Paisley said they had a good turnout even with the predicted weather.
City Attorney, Erin Wilson Laegeler reported the county has been working closely with the Friends of the Trail to get the final proposal for the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant. Attorney Wilson Laegeler stated the group submitted an action plan that was seventy five percent (75%) and the county is still waiting to get the final plan.
Attorney Wilson-Laegeler said the county will be having another meeting on July 5th, at 4:00 p.m. and she encourages everyone to go to know where the city stands because we have had a lot less information than the county has. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler reminded the council that the grant will be in the city’s name so we are on the hook for everything.
Mayor Jeff Ervin reported the next meeting is on July 3rd and he knows the fair will be going on so he asked the council if they were okay with pushing the meeting back to 6:00 p.m. instead of 7:00 p.m.. Consensus agreed to move the July 3rd meeting to 6:00 p.m.
12. ADJOURN
Dodds MOVED TO ADJOURN. Trimble SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Davis, Dodds, & Fishel; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Rebman. THE MEETING STOOD ADJOURNED ACCORDINGLY AT 7:35 P.M.
https://rushvilleillinois.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/23-06-19-1.pdf
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